Liz Swaine | Special to BIZ. Magazine
Small Business Saturday is going to be a big day in downtown Shreveport as our neighborhood of small and locally-owned retailers and restaurants show off all they have to offer. Our locally-owned businesses have been hit by multiple whammies in 2020. First, stay at home orders killed both foot traffic and the desire to purchase products unrelated to PPE or toilet paper. Bars were closed and restaurants were restricted to take-out and delivery only. Residents who were confined at home turned to Internet shopping, siphoning even more dollars out of the local economy. It’s time to make a local shopping pivot.
Saturday, Nov. 28, is our community’s opportunity to show our local business owners- friends and acquaintances- that we are back- and that we have their backs. Downtown businesses have made Small Business Saturday both fun and worth your while by offering a list of events that will run all day. You can go from art markets at The Agora Borealis, C&C Lighting and Mercantile, Remington Hotel Suites & the Mudbug Market on the Riverfront to live music and book signings at Shreve Towne Studio 512 to an Open Mic event at Retro Down Town Café.
Discounts, gift giveaways and drawings are happening at Appli-K’s, Sanctuary Glass Studio, Bailey Gallery, Parish Taceaux, C & C Mercantile and Lighting & The Agora Borealis. Get steal deals on gift card purchases at Robinson Film Center, Red River Brewpub and get a free delicious coffee drink with gift card purchase at Rhino Coffee downtown. Food specials including extra sides, desserts and drinks will be given at Retro Downtown BBQ, Shababy’s Cajun Cooking and Retro Down Town Café; and you can even get a deal on a future rental at Artspace.
That’s not all! Our Small Business Saturday list also includes customized beer four-packs at Red River Brewpub, $4.99 pancakes at Retro Down Town Cafe, free movie passes with purchase of gift membership at Robinson Film Center, free embroidery with purchase at Appli-K’s, and finally, to end the day, fireworks in the night sky as Rockets over the Red returns.
The shopping kicks off at 9 am on Small Business Saturday and the fun continues until the last firework has popped (and beyond). A number of our downtown restaurants will be open for post-fireworks food and libations.
To see the latest Small Business Saturday updates, go to downtownshreveport.com/small business Saturday or to the Facebook event page at Small Business Saturday Downtown Shreveport. Hope to see you shopping downtown!