Chicagoans displayed their support for local enterprises during this year’s Small Business Saturday, setting aside convenience to trek through the snow and rejuvenate neighborhood businesses. “You can buy online any time of the year and you’re not helping the little guy. We got to shop small and buy local, and put money back in our local businesse,” Jenna Iberle was cited in an NBC Chicago interview while making purchases at Genevieve Boutique. The celebration included promotions like a wheel of prizes at stores, exemplified by Genevieve Boutique’s contribution to the festive market ambiance.
In Lincoln Square, the local Chamber of Commerce, representing about 250 members, marked the occasion as a crucial period for trade — Rudy Flores, president of the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce told NBC Chicago, “It’s actually become one of the busiest days of the year for our community, we’re just really excited to be able to celebrate the holidays.” Despite the snowstorm, the scheduled tree lighting persisted as planned, symbolizing the vibrant community spirit. Nearby, The Chopping Block didn’t just offer cutlery deals but also engaged customers with cooking classes, highlighting the diversity of local business services.
Festivities also swept through Rogers Park, where the recently opened Alexander’s Restaurant played host to the local Small Business Saturday movement, an event accompanied by complimentary tote bags filled with goods and a guide to neighborhood provisions. Erik Mizhquiri, the owner of Alexander’s Restaurant, shared in an ABC7 Chicago interview his enthusiasm: “Definitely an honor to be in this community and be able to do what we love with the people we love, as a family-owned business.”
The dedication of shoppers and the coordinated efforts of alliances like the Rogers Park Business Alliance also aimed to safeguard the future of local commerce, underscored by the participation of more than 30 businesses. Alderwoman Maria Hadden touted the local economic impact, suggesting, “If you’re not necessarily big on shopping, a lot of business have gift cards, so maybe there’s not something in particular that you need, but this is a great time of year to help people, like, get ready for that, sometimes lull as we hit January and February,” according to the same ABC7 Chicago report.
