Small shops in Alle-Kiski Valley go big on Small Business Saturday

Debbi Young has never gone Black Friday shopping.

Instead, the Leechburg resident prefers to shop locally on Small Business Saturday.

“It’s our tradition — when the boys go hunting, the girls go shopping,” Young said. “I grew up shopping for my clothes and everything in downtown Leechburg and I think it’s a huge shift — shopping locally.”

Young and her three grown daughters began their Small Business Saturday shopping tradition in 2014.

“We just like small businesses more,” said daughter Kaysie Young. “It’s a hometown feel and we always see people we know.”

In Leechburg, Small Business Saturday coincides with Luminate Leechburg, the borough’s official annual event celebrating the Christmas season.

Small Business Saturday was first observed nationwide in 2010 and created by American Express.

The premise is simple: encourage folks to shop at local and small businesses in their communities instead of patronizing corporate big box stores.

Cheryl Weibel, 60, of Lower Burrell made a trip to Vandergrift to check out some newly opened businesses.

“I normally wouldn’t go there for Small Business Saturday, but I’ve heard a lot of stores are opening there and I like to promote local businesses,” Weibel said.

She found a new sweater while shopping with her daughter at East West Boutique on Grant Avenue. The women’s clothing store opened this month and dozens of shoppers had filled the store around 11 a.m.

Weibel said she planned to visit New Kensington for their inaugural New Ken Shop Small Crawl and lunch at Knead Cafe.

Small business owner Belinda Szarek of Gilpin made sure her inventory of custom made jewelry, fabric handbags and Infinity scarves was fully stocked Saturday in CoCo Coffeehouse in Leechburg.

Szarek, 63, joked she turned her hobby into a small business to “keep from hoarding.”

All of her items are priced below $30.

“I enjoy being creative and this is a great side business,” said Szarek, a retired nurse practitioner.

New business owner Lisa Brunermer opened Full Circle Furniture and Gifts last month in downtown Vandergrift.

Brunermer said her first Small Business Saturday had her feeling “scared but excited” and a steady stream of customers kept her busy.

Full Circle sells art, jewelry, home decor, furniture, paintings and home accessories.

Dan Rzewnicki grew up in West Leechburg and lives in Atlanta and shopped in Vandergrift while home visiting relatives.

“I think small businesses typically have nicer things with better quality,” Rzewnicki said. “And the people are really nice.”

In New Kensington @ the inaugural New Ken Shop Small Crawl 2021. @VNDNews @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/eD6YBL70qS

— Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) November 27, 2021

More than 40 businesses in New Kensington united for the first New Ken Ship Small Crawl on Saturday. Co-organizers Jamie Parker and Michelle Thom said turnout exceeded expectations.

“We are overwhelmed with support,” said Parker, owner of Sweet Alchemy, the sole all-vegan bakery in Westmoreland County. “We sold out of donuts, lady locks and pop tarts.”

Parker said the event adds a little twist to the traditional Small Business Saturday, with a raffle offered for folks collecting stamps from at least three businesses in each of the six zones occupying Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Parnassus.

“We wanted to plan this event to highlight the businesses here and let everyone know what’s here. New Ken is buzzing … real hard,” Parker said.

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said he spent hours at the crawl and estimated attendance in the hundreds.

“People came down to support the businesses, check them out. Parking was full and it was just a great day,” said Guzzo, noting many businesses sold out of goods.

Kim Tarasi and Mark Bridge, both of Kiski Township, spend several hours in New Kensington, wrapping up their afternoon of shopping with a drink at Voodoo Brewing Co.

“It’s wonderful. I was able to shop and check out places I normally haven’t,” Tarasi said.

BW412 owner Cullen Maag, 41, originally from Colorado, said moving to New Kensington has been a positive decision. Maag said he was pleased with attendance, with a steady flow of groups purchasing $1 a minute massages all day.

“I’m happy to be a part of this momentum moving forward. This event means we should be beating the corporate machine that is Black Friday,” Maag said.