Shop big support small business Saturday this holiday season

As people across the country gear up for the holidays and prepare to buy gifts for loved ones, local merchants ask shoppers to observe Small Businesses Saturday on Nov. 30 and patronize stores in their neighborhoods.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, officially marks the beginning of shopping season. With the advent of the internet, and several instances of violent outbursts -- including a Wal-Mart worker who was trampled to death in 2008 during a Black Friday sale in Long Island -- came Cyber Monday, a shopping day exclusive to online buyers. Amidst the boom of online shopping and big-box stores putting mom-and-pop shops out of business, credit card giant, American Express, invented Small Business Saturday. Since its inception, the company claims to have generated $200 billion in sales to small businesses across the country. Revenue especially crucial in a post-COVID-19 environment where vacant storefronts solemnly sit as reminders of the more than 30,000 businesses shuttered city-wide in 2020.

“I actually had a breakdown,” Mary Anne Connaughton told The Press about her experience during the pandemic, owner of Mary Anne’s Irish Design Shop at 5694 Riverdale Ave. “Because I was a single mom -- I was like, I don't even know what I'm going to do and how am I going to take care of my kids and everything.”

Connaughton’s shop sells fine goods imported from Ireland, items she hand-picks at a trade show in Dublin and from other trustworthy entrepreneurs she has worked with for decades.

It was 1991 and Connaughton was fresh out of the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan when she decided to open the store adjacent to her family’s restaurant, Connaughton’s Steakhouse, a staple of the neighborhood since the ‘70s.

Fast forward more than 30 years later, her business survives.

“I think why I've existed for as long as I have, is that somebody will purchase a sweater from me and after 10 years, when it's still keeping them warm and still looks good, they say, ‘you know what, I'm going to go back,’” said Connaughton, who prides herself on the personal interactions she has with her customers who come from as far as Brooklyn and South Hampton for her crafted, niche items.

Down the hill from Riverdale at 6087 Broadway, and across from Van Cortlandt Park, sits Lloyd’s Carrot Cake since 1986. Owner, Lloyd Adams began to play with a recipe handed down to him by his mother and incidentally created the best carrot cake in the Bronx, and arguably, NYC.

“Their carrot cakes are the best,” Dalissa Lugo of Riverdale told The Press as she was standing in line on a recent Monday morning and prefers plain cake as opposed to the added raisins and walnuts. She admitted to trying the Lloyd’s location in Harlem, but still prefers the original in the Bronx.

A man standing in line next to Lugo emphatically shook his head in agreement, but declined to be interviewed because he was playing hookie from work to buy the cake.

In September, the street outside the cake shop was co-named Betty and Lloyd Adams way, commemorating the impact of a hole-in-the-wall operation which has flourished for decades. Lloyd Adams died in 2007, leaving his wife, Betty Campbell-Adams to carry the business in his absence. However, in 2020 she died and the store is now run by their children, Lilka and Brandon Adams, who say Thanksgiving is their busiest time of the year, making more than 200 cakes a day.

Rani Vaswani, owner of The Barbecue Pit at 5788 Mosholu Ave., offers homemade pies for the holiday and year-round. The restaurant recently celebrated 25 years of service.

On Kingsbridge Avenue, the Kingsbridge Social Club, serves craft beer, craft pizza and delicious Italian dishes with daily specials. The casual, local eatery offers gift cards for those who prefer their presents in edible form.

To help boom an already growing sector of the borough, the Bronx Economic Development Corporation announced three distinct low-interest loans for small business owners in October. A micro-loan up to $50,000 at a 5% interest rate; the Bronx Commercial Development Loan, offering between $50,001 and $500,000 with interest rates tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate of 7.75% plus 1 to 2%; and the Community Advantage Loan to be utilized by for-profit businesses that have been operating for at least three years, offering up to $500,000 with interest rates tied to the WSJ prime rate plus 2-6%. According to data from the financial consulting company, NerdWallet, loans from the city’s Small Business Administration, typically carry an interest rate ranging from 10.75 to 14.25%.

“In my district, we have an abundance of passionate mom-and-pop shops that contribute significantly to our economy and culture,” Councilman Eric Dinowitz said. “I am eager to see how these loan products empower them to invest in their operations, create jobs, and strengthen our neighborhoods.”

At The Press, we know how important small businesses are to the community which is why we take great pride in covering them and their owners, week in and week out. It's also why we have been spearheading a new state program that puts money directly in the hands of small businesses to promote their products and services to their local customers. We are excited to tell you more about this program in the coming weeks.

Small businesses rely on their neighbors for survival. This year, consider shopping local and boost your neighborhood’s economy.