Shop Local In Skokie For Small Business Saturday

SKOKIE, IL — Big name national retailers take the spotlight on Black Friday as their deep price cuts pull in shoppers in droves. What about those mom-and-pop businesses around Skokie and neighboring towns that make up the backbone of America's economy? Just when do they get their day?

That's basically the question that was asked back in 2010 when the concept of Small Business Saturday was born. Small Business Saturday is "a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities," the U.S. Small Business Administration explains on its website.

If you're looking to "shop small" and keep your holiday dollars in your community, there are promotions and events planned throughout Skokie on Saturday.

Starting at 1 p.m., "Pop-Up Gift Shops" will suddenly appear in shops and restaurants on Lincoln Avenue, as close to 40 artisan and crafter vendors will set up shop temporarily out of locations like Skokie Theatre, North Branch Yoga, El Fuego, Marge’s Flowers, Aw Yeah Comics, Mini Man Monkey Brains with more locations coming soon.

Check out of list of participating businesses and vendors below:

Skokie Small Business Saturday Venues

• Ace Hardware, 5035 Oakton Street Annual Thanksgiving Sale
• Al’s Cycle Shop, 8118 Lincoln Ave. Specials from 1-5pm
• Aw Yeah Comics, 7925 Lincoln Avenue Gift Vendors 1-5pm
• Euro Echo Cafe, 7919 Lincoln Avenue Specials from 1-5pm
• El Fuego, 8018 Lincoln Avenue Gift Vendors 1-5pm
• Gaite Salon, 4958 Oakton Street Specials on products and service
• Marge’s Flowers, 8038 Lincoln Avenue In-store holiday specials Gift Vendors 1-5pm
• Mini Man Monkey Brains, 7927 Lincoln Avenue Gift Vendors 1-5pm
• Nailed Salon, 4959 Oakton St Specials from 1-5pm
• North Branch Yoga, 8056 Lincoln Avenue Gift Vendors 1-5pm
• Skokie Paint and Wallpaper, 7929 Lincoln Avenue 10% MSRP from 1-5pm
• Sweety Pies Cakery Bakery Cafe, 8042 Lincoln Avenue TBA
• Village Inn Pizzeria Sports Bar and Grill, 8050 Lincoln Avenue TBA
  • (More venues may be added.)

Pop-Up Vendors, By Location

Aw Yeah Comics 7925 Lincoln Ave.

• Rebecca Adams – Soaps
• Rachie Farr – Art and jewelry
• Joanne Marsden – Crochet and sewn toys/gifts

El Fuego, 8018 Lincoln Ave.

• Collective Resources – Food scrap pickup/commercial composting service
• Brenda Rosales – Mexican clothing and accessories
• Christine Kane – Reclaimed decorative items
• Laurie Longfield – Prime My Body™ CBD Hemp oil
• Whimsical Acres – Goats Milk and Farm Inspired Gifts
• “Jazzman” Jeff Justman – Music
• Angela Brathwaite – Road Trip Potty
• Tamara Peterson – Paintings, art prints, and ornaments

Marge’s Flowers, 8038 Lincoln Ave.

• Valerie Drame – Handmade leather bags and accessories
• Charise Cowan-LeRoy – Eco-friendly handmade skin and bath products
• Donna Koranek – Hand dyed yarn, Plant dyed yarn, jewelry made from upcycled knitting needles, Felting kits and felting supplies, nuno felted scarves, hand dyed shawls

Mini Man Monkey Brains, 7927 Lincoln Ave.

• Krista Walker – Jewelry using metal focal pieces, cabochons and cameos with beaded embroidery and chains
• Richard Garcia – Coffee, bagged (ground and whole bean), cappuccinos, espressos, latte, cold brew, hot or cold
• Amber Liset – LuLaRoe Clothing

North Branch Yoga, 8056 Lincoln Ave.

• Old Temple Chicago – Imported decor and gifts
• Hazel & Ivy – Clothing and accessories
• Bootleg Batard – Gourmet treats
• Marsha Halleck – Hand painted note cards
• Amy Landolt – Essential Oils
• Ardath Berliant – Handmade Soaps and Hemp Oils
• Richard Zeid – Pottery
• Jenny Underwood – Knit baby and kids gifts
• Kim Moldofsky – Laser cut keychains and pendants
• Nors Beatriz – Jewelry made from natural gemstones and crystals

Note that regular hours may vary by location.

To find more businesses taking part in the promotion, check out the map on the Small Business Saturday website. (Click on "Find Out Where To Shop" in the menu at the top of the screen and type in your ZIP code to check another town.)

And to find out what Skokie businesses are staying open on Thanksgiving and where you can do some last-minute grocery shopping, check out of list of What's Open and What's Closed in Skokie on Thanksgiving.

» via Downtown Skokie

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_{Top photo via Pixabay}