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Small Business Saturday celebrates NYC mom-and-pop shops as holiday season kicks off: ‘The backbone of the city’

Between blockbuster Black Friday sales and bulk ordering on Cyber Monday, shoppers-in-lieu have yet another day of spending.

On Small Business Saturday, which falls two days after Thanksgiving on Nov. 30, people are encouraged to visit their neighborhood mom-and-pop shops to promote shopping locally, rather than at major department stores or online retailers, which are usually shown much love on Friday and Monday following the holiday.

Designer Revival store in Manhattan, storefront with mannequins, photography by Emmy Park for NY Post.
Tiffany Keriakos, owner of UES shop Designer Revival, told The Post that small businesses are “the backbone” of the Big Apple. Emmy Park for NY Post

Founded in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday began to support communities after the recession. Just last year, consumers reported a whopping $17 billion spent at tiny shops, and, since its inception, Small Business Saturday has brought in a total of $201 billion in revenue.

After the COVID-19 pandemic upended mom-and-pops around the city and resulted in thousands shuttering for good, it is important — now more than ever — to shop local.

“It’s such an important part of the city, and it really, I think, is the backbone of the city,” Tiffany Keriakos, owner of the Upper East Side consignment retailer Designer Revival, told The Post, adding that there are fewer small businesses in the city as a result of various hardships like crime and COVID.

Here, The Post has rounded up some local mom-and-pops across the boroughs ahead of Small Business Saturday.

Upper East Side

Designer Revival store in Manhattan with a rack of clothes in the background, taken on June 13, 2023 by Emmy Park for NY Post.
Designer Revival is hosting a sip and shop for Small Business Saturday. Emmy Park for NY Post

Uptown, shoppers can purchase pre-loved clothing from the Niche Shop or shop consignment at Designer Revival, which is hosting an all-day sip-and-shop event on Saturday.

“We really take pride in being a local business and being able to support our local community,” Keriakos said, emphasizing that small businesses are an asset to the city.

Group of people shopping in Rita's Needlepoint craft store at 303 E 81st St, Manhattan NY
At Rita’s Needlepoint, crafty customers shop a wide array of yarns in various colors for their next needlepoint project. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post

There’s also Mary Arnold Toys, which has been in business for almost a century and is a cornucopia of games, dolls, toys and books galore, making it the perfect pit stop when shopping for stocking stuffers or other holiday gifts.

You can also make your Saturday a little sweeter — and boozier — at Spoonable Spirits, a business dedicated to alcohol-infused pudding and jellos.

And, down the street, crafty consumers itching for a new project can stop by Rita’s Needlepoint, founded in 1973 by Rita Klein, who set up shop in the Big Apple after moving from Paris. Although she retired in 2019, the store still serves the artistic community on the UES.

A woman shopping in Mary Arnold Toys store located at 1178 Lexington Ave, Manhattan NY, photo by Stefano Giovannini
Mary Arnold Toys has been serving the local community for decades. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post
Mary Arnold Toys store, Manhattan NY, a bicycle with a basket full of stuffed animals
At the Lexington Avenue toy shop, shoppers can pick the perfect gift for a young family member. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post

The Niche Shop: 311 E. 81st St., http://thenicheshop.co/

Designer Revival: 324 E. 81st St., https://www.designerrevival.com/

Mary Arnold Toys: 1178 Lexington Ave., http://www.maryarnoldtoys.com/

Rita’s Needlepoint: 303 E. 81st St., https://www.ritasneedlepoint.com/

Lower East Side

Leigh Altshuler holding a book and jar at Sweet Pickle Books, photographed by Emmy Park for NY Post
Head to Sweet Pickle Books to swap used literature for a jar of salty, savory dills, or shop for a new read. Emmy Park

Head south to satiate your sweet tooth at the legendary Economy Candy, a NYC mainstay since 1937, and satisfy your inner bookworm by purchasing a new novel from Sweet Pickle Books — a store overflowing with used books that slyly sells both of the goodies that make up its name. If you’re hankering for something salty and savory, donate a tome from your personal library in exchange for — you guessed it — pickles.

Down the block, there’s November 19, a home goods and apparel store, or the boutique and studio owned and operated by Pamela Barsky, a designer known as “the original New York bag lady.” There, fashionistas can buy one of her famed, slogan-adorned pouches or totes.

Storefront of Economy Candy on Rivington St in New York, displaying the last chocolate Easter bunnies wrapped in colored foil
Economy Candy has been a longtime pillar of the LES community, offering a wide variety of confections for locals with a sweet tooth. Helayne Seidman

Economy Candy: 108 Rivington St., https://www.economycandy.com/

Sweet Pickle Books: 47 Orchard St., http://www.sweetpicklebooks.com/

November 19: 37 Orchard St., http://www.november19market.com/

Pamela Barsky Boutique & Studio: 147 Orchard St., http://pamelabarsky.com/

West Village

Sam 'the Leatherman' holding two handmade purses at Waverly Leather and Luggage store in Manhattan, NY
At Waverly Leather, Sam, “The Leather Man,” boasts a collection of leather goods, bags and more. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post

On the other side of town, the West Village is the perfect place for avid thrifters to get their fix at vintage hotspots like Screaming Mimis or Madame Matovu — or fashionistas can score affordable luxury at the sample sale haven Clever Alice.

Leather lovers, however, can head to Waverly Leather, which is dedicated to hand-crafted pieces from briefcases and backpacks to messenger satchels and totes.

Those in the mood for some light reading can snag a glossy periodical or the day’s newspaper from Casa Magazines, the neighborhood’s celebrity-beloved newsstand that offers thousands of titles for every interest. Those with beloved furry friends they want to immortalize can even commission a pet portrait from Mimi Vang Olsen, a famed artist who operates out of her studio on Hudson Street.

Owner Seyd Khalid Wasim, known as Ali, serving a customer in the CASA Magazines store on 8th Avenue, West Village, with various magazine covers featuring celebrities in the background.
Pick up a periodical at Casa Magazines while on the way to your next stop on Small Business Saturday. Tamara Beckwith/N.Y.Post
Storefront of Mimi Vang Olsen's Pet Portrait studio at 545 Hudson St Manhattan NY
Pet lovers can commission a portrait of their furry friend from Mimi Vang Olsen. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post

Screaming Mimis: 240 W. 14th St., http://www.screamingmimis.com/

Madame Matovu: 240 W. 10th St.

Clever Alice: 87 Christopher St., https://www.cleveralice.com/

Waverly Leather: 33 Greenwich Ave., http://www.waverlyleather.com/

Casa Magazines: 22 8th Ave.

Williamsburg

Mannequin displaying a handmade, hand-sown dress by owner Liv in her Brooklyn, NY store
By Liv is a Brooklyn gem boasting handmade garments and ethically sourced pieces. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post
A woman standing in front of a rack of hand sown dresses at Liv Handmade shop in Brooklyn, NY
Oliva Reinertson’s clothing racks at her storefront are bursting with flowing gowns. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post

Cross the East River into Brooklyn and visit the stalls of local creatives who have set up shop inside Artists and Fleas, a bazaar comprised of more than 50 vendors with a mission of bolstering business for small shops.

If you’re on the market for new furniture, browse the array of pieces at the Dobbin St. Vintage Co-Op, or shop the options for home goods at Leif. Then, there’s By Liv, a clothing shop that specializes in sustainable garments made from recycled materials and sells vintage items and pieces from independent designers.

Ornament-laden tree in FRIENDS NYC gift and crafts store, a smoke shop in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, photo by Stefano Giovannini
At Friends NYC, shoppers can indulge in holiday spending by growing their ornament collection or purchasing gifts. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post

If you’re in the mood for gift shopping, head out to East Williamsburg to Friends NYC, a curated hodge-podge of homeware, smoking essentials, candles and accessories.

While taking a break to enjoy a freshly baked item from Settepani Bakery, dig into a book from Quimby’s Bookstore, where visitors are inundated with an eclectic collection of zines, novels and other curious items.

Nino Settepani and his daughter Bilena Settepani smiling and making 'Le Crookie', a chocolate chip dough filled croissant, at Settepani Bakery in Brooklyn, NY
Satiate that sweet tooth with a bakery item from Settepani Bakery, owned and operated by father-daughter duo Nino and Bilena Settepani. Stefano Giovannini for N.Y.Post

Artists & Fleas: 70 N. 7th St., https://www.artistsandfleas.com/williamsburg/

Dobbin St. Vintage Co-Op: 39 Norman Ave., http://dobbinstcoop.com/

Leif: 99 Grand St., https://www.leifshop.com/

By Liv: 293 Manhattan Ave., http://bylivhandmade.com/

Friends NYC: 56 Bogart St., https://friendsnyc.com/

Settepani Bakery: 602 Lorimer St., https://www.settepani.com/

Astoria

Owner Nicole Panettieri standing behind the counter at Brass Owl store in Astoria, NY
The Brass Owl hawks a wide array of home goods and accessories. Kim Max for N.Y.Post

Across the Queensborough Bridge in Astoria, there are a plethora of hidden gems hawking accessories, apparel, home goods and knick-knacks, such as the Brass Owl or Lockwood, and, after a long day of shopping, locals can also unwind at Sacred Space Astoria, a yoga and wellness studio founded by Queens resident and mom of three Kim Alexandrescu.

If you’re on the hunt for a special holiday gift, snag a new vinyl from Pancakes Records or pick up a jar of local honey at Astor Apiaries, which prides itself on being the only honey and bee shop in the city and saw “quite the foot traffic” at their newly brick-and-mortar on Small Business Saturday last year.

Backyard of Lockwood Home & Gift in Astoria, NY, decorated to resemble a neighborhood bodega with various novelty items
Astoria gem Lockwood Home & Gifts is perfect for knick-knack lovers. Kim Max for N.Y.Post
A room with benches in Sacred Space Astoria, a wellness center offering yoga, reiki training, spiritual workshops, and various holistic therapies.
End the day with some R&R at Sacred Space Astoria, where you can buy a yoga package for a friend or loved one.

“It gives a certain uniqueness and authenticity to a neighborhood when you have stores like us that are just in Astoria,” founder Nick Hoefly told The Post, adding that shopping small boosts business for the neighborhood, where many mom-and-pops have fallen to the wayside.

“Getting people to know about us is huge in just keeping us around.”

A shelf filled with 'Made in the USA' food products at Astor Apiaries in Astoria, NY featuring jars and a flower
Shopping small is all the buzz — and at Astor Apiaries, locals can treat themselves to honey collected from beehives right in the Big Apple. Kim Max for N.Y.Post

The Brass Owl: 36-19 Ditmars Blvd., https://www.thebrassowl.com/

Lockwood Home & Gift: 32-15 33rd St., https://lockwoodshop.com/

Sacred Space Astoria: 2905 21st Ave., https://www.sacredspaceastoria.com/

Astor Apiaries: 33-22 23rd Ave., https://astorapiaries.com/

Pancakes Records: 20-77 Steinway St., https://pancakes-records.com/

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