Local shops a highlight of weekend shopping
Source: Bedford Gazette
The streets of downtown Bedford bustled with activity Friday morning as Black Friday shoppers turned their attention to local businesses. Big-box stores, often the hallmark of this retail holiday, generally saw smaller crowds than normal, while the independently owned shops lining Pitt and Juliana Streets enjoyed a steady stream of customers.
Despite temperatures dipping below freezing and snowflakes dusting the sidewalks, downtown provided a warm and festive atmosphere. Storefronts twinkled with holiday displays and shoppers bundled in scarves and coats in search of unique gifts and deals.
Black Friday, the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season, has long been associated with crowded malls and massive discounts at major retailers. Originating in the 1960’s, the term initially described post-Thanksgiving chaos in Philadelphia after the Army-Navy football game before becoming a nationwide phenomenon.
Juli Gonsman, owner of Juli’s Wearable Art on Pitt Street, noted the shift. “Today is good, but tomorrow is usually our busier day. I feel like people really make an effort to come out on Small Business Saturday.”
Small Business Saturday, incepted by American Express after the Great Recession in 2010, was a focused effort to bring attention to small businesses feeling the pinch of the Black Friday major retailer blowouts.
“We’re expecting a great holiday season,” many of the business owners shared. “As a pull for the year, we’re only down 3%, but we’re hoping to cover that on Saturday.”
As shoppers strolled through the historic streets and browsed unique wares, it was clear that the holiday spirit had arrived, with many saying the charm of small-town storefronts or the chance to support local entrepreneurs make a difference.
Contact Sarah Blubaugh at sblubaugh@bedfordgazette.com; 814-623-1151, ext. 120.
