PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Small Business Saturday is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the entire year for some small businesses in Manayunk and stores were open all day welcoming in the crowds.
The shopping day, which follows Black Friday, is meant to shift the focus from the big box stores to small businesses, who also rely on holiday shopping crowds.
Mallory Minor is playing Santa for her shoppers at Minor Details Philly.
“When you shop with us, you might get lucky and find a little extra something that you can spend,” said Minor, who hid a few gift cards in merchandise. She said it was thank you to all those shopping on Small Business Saturday.
“Encourage people to come in and spend their money here with us instead because it makes much more of an impact to us as a small business than it does to those big stores,” she said.
Hers is one of dozens of stores along Main Street in Manayunk hoping for a boost on this popular shopping day.
“There’s about 50-60 small businesses on Main Street. It’s all about shopping small for the holidays this year, definitely want to come out and support these businesses,” said Carla Ferro, events manager for the Manayunk Development Corporation.
Julia Poblow and Ana Sica say they love spending their money within their community.
“Being able to support our community members, because the people that own these businesses live around here too, I feel like it just makes it a better community,” said Poblow.
The Manayunk Development Corporation wants shoppers to go to as many stores as possible, so they’re offering everyone passports. Once you’re stamped at six different stores, then you’re entered to win a gift card to keep shoppers coming back all holiday season.
“Well we’re definitely going to go to Tacqueria at the end,” said Jack Angeny, showing his passport.
He says he and his roommates have made it a point to visit small businesses since the pandemic.
“Basically when covid started so we didn’t get to experience it when we first moved in. so it was really actually kind of fun. Right after covid when the bans were lifted, we got to start experiencing the restaurants and all the fun stores.”
Those shop owners say the appreciate the support on what for many is the busiest day of the entire year.
“It helps just really bring in that community vibe and help really make our stores thrive,” said Minor.
Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.