Shop In Cranford On Small Business Saturday 2019

CRANFORD, NJ - You may not think about it much, but independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and the like in town are fighting for survival against malls, big box stores and online retailers.

Small Business Saturday, held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, was created to give them a boost and help level the field of competition. This year, the 10th anniversary of the “Shop Small” movement, the all-local shopping event falls on Nov. 30.

On Small Business Saturday, in Cranford downtown retailers will have sales, discounts, and promotional events to kick off the holiday shopping season. There will also be free parking all day Friday and Saturday.

Stop by the Downtown Cranford table in Eastman Plaza from noon-4 p.m. on Saturday to pick up a Shop Small shopping bag and Winter Wonderland Passport. Downtown Cranford will also have a Hot Chocolate and S'mores Bar.

Downtown Cranford is also offering the Shop Small Passport, which you candownload and print out. The passport lists Small Business Saturday promotions and for every purchase a customer makes, they'll receive a stamp. The number of stamps a customer gets equals the number of raffle tickets, which can be entered to win a Downtown Cranford Gift Bag. Customers can hand in the passport at the Downtown Cranford table at Eastman Plaza from noon-4 p.m. on Saturday. Winners of the Small Business Saturday raffles will be announced following Small Business Saturday.

According to the American Express database, here’s a list of the businesses that have signed up so far:

Avenue East
Asian Cuisine
16 North Union Avenue

Pastosa Ravioli
Assorted Menu Restaurant
200 South E Ave

Sun Tavern Roselle Par
North American Cuisine
600 W Westfield Ave

Mizu Sushi
Asian Cuisine
103 N Union Ave

Ambeli Greek Taverna
Mediterranean Cuisine
29 N Union Ave

Garlic Rose Bistro
North American Cuisine
28 North Ave W

Playa Bowls - Cranford
Fast Food
102 B Union Ave

Emma's Brick Oven Pizza & Cafe
Pizzeria
101 N Union Ave

The Thirsty Turtle
Assorted Menu Restaurant
3 South Avenue West

A Toute Heure
North American Cuisine
232 Centennial Ave

Breens Liquors
Liquor Store
21 N Union Ave

100 Steps Supper Club + Raw Bar
Food and Drinks
215 Centennial Ave

Old City Cafe & Grill
Coffee Shops and Cafes
20 N Union Ave

Bar Americana
Assorted Menu Restaurant
24 North Ave E

Vinnys Pizza & Pasta
Pizzeria
28 Eastman St

Riverside Inn Bar
Assorted Menu Restaurant
56 North Ave E

Cranford Theatre
Movie Theatre
25 North Ave

Breadsmith
Bakery
32 North Ave E

Triestina Restaurant
Assorted Menu Restaurant
515 Centennial Ave

Sub-Ology
Assorted Menu Restaurant
17 North Ave West

Romolas Seafood & Grille
Pizzeria
2 South Ave W

Big Apple Cranford
Pizzeria
13 Walnut Ave

Pizzeria
2 South Ave W

Ye Olde Rathskeller
Coffee Shops and Cafes
523 Centennial Ave

Hunan Wok
Assorted Menu Restaurant
43 North Ave E

Butcher Block
Meat and Fish Market
209 Centennial Ave

Il Gabbiano
Italian Cuisine
10 South Ave

Periwinkles
Gifts,Novelty Items and Souvenirs Store
19 N. Union Avenue

Mrbin Sushi & Grill
Asian Cuisine
123 N Union Ave

Craven Bbq
Barbecue
22 Eastman St

Alluem Yoga

Classes and Lessons
347 Lincoln Ave E

Calabria Pizzeria
Pizzeria
208 Centennial Ave

Home Power Yoga
Sport and Recreational Clubs
8 Eastman Street

Siam Inn
Asian Cuisine
110 North Ave W

Fromage Grille
Bars and Night Clubs
101 Miln Street

Augusta Mae Boutique
Used Merchandise Store
35 Alden Street

Sushi Time
Asian Cuisine
12 South Ave W

Martin Jewelers-Sales
Jewelry,Clock and Watch Store
12 North Ave W

Mr J's Deli
Specialty Food Market
15 Walnut Ave

Marinos Seafood Market & Restaurant
Meat and Fish Market
34 North Ave E

Jungle Juice
Assorted Menu Restaurant
34 North Avenue West

Ramen Cranford
Delicatessen
41 North Ave E

Milk Money
Children's and Infant's Clothing Store
18 North Ave West

Artist Framer
17 North Ave E

1 Walnut
Asian Cuisine
1 Walnut Avenue

Pb Westfield Llc Dba Playa Bowls
Assorted Menu Restaurant
102b N Union Ave

Cranford Vanilla Bean Creamery
Dessert
22 North Ave W

Simply
Miscellaneous Retail Store
11 North Union Ave

Baron Drugs
Drug Store
34 Eastman Street

Sweet'n Fancy Emporium
Candy,and Nut Stores
1 South Ave E

Bells Pharmacy
Drug Store
17 N Union Ave Ste 1

Pizza House
Pizzeria
123 N Union Ave

Tomasello Winery @ Dreyer
Tennis
831 Springfield Ave

Look Twice Look Again
Used Merchandise Store
106 North Union Avenue

Cranford Jkc
Sport and Recreational Clubs
107 South Ave W

Jr`S Mini Mart
Specialty Food Market
408 Centennial Ave

King Strength & Perfo
Sport and Recreational Clubs
8 Eastman Street

Xtra Mile Fitness
Miscellaneous Retail Store
39a Myrtle Street

Korner Gift Store
Gifts,Novelty Items and Souvenirs Store
1134 S Orange Ave

The Fx Circuit
Sport and Recreational Clubs
12 Washington Pl

Perrottis Quality Meats
Meat and Fish Market
23 S Union Ave

Glitterex
Hobbies,Toys and Games Store
7 Commerce Dr

Vinette Rose Boutique
Women's Accessories Store
25 North Avenue West

Ox Group Usa
General Merchandise Store
95 Dermody St

Cheer Legacy Allstars
Sport and Recreational Clubs
33 Burchfield Ave

Robert Anthony Jewelers
Jewelry,Clock and Watch Store
11 Eastman St

Michele Lynch
Women's Clothing Store
20 Park Terrace

Anthony Tabish Orch
Shows,Plays and Circus
206 Hillside Ave

Acai You
Specialty Food Market
173 N Lehigh Ave

Did we miss anyone? Tell us in the comments or send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com and we’ll add it to the list.

The list of Small Business Saturday participants is growing, so before you head out to shop. “Shop Small” events include not only sales on things you won’t find at the mall or other shopping venues, but also events that bring the community together.

American Express established Small Business Saturday in 2010 to help local businesses reeling from the Great Recession. The U.S. Senate passed a resolution a year later encouraging businesses in all 50 states to participate in what has morphed into a nationwide “shop small” movement.

This year, the stakes are even higher for small businesses. Rising rents and shifting consumer behavior are causing many small business owners to shutter their shops, according to American Express.

A Shop Small Consumer Impact survey from American Express found that 73 percent of people think empty storefronts are a national issue, and 84 percent agree the increase in empty storefronts and the closing of small, independently owned businesses negatively affects their local communities.

“We recognize the hardships faced by small business owners today and want to inspire people to take notice and Shop Small to support their communities on Small Business Saturday and beyond,” Elizabeth Rutledge, chief marketing officer at American Express, said in a news release. “Retail is changing, but local shops are the fabric of our communities, helping them to thrive in the future is part of our brand ethos and backing promise.”

Since 2010, local business supporters have spent $103 billion on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express.

But that’s only part of the story. For every dollar spent at a U.S. small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community — and it helps independent shops and restaurants keep their doors open and meet pay their workers, your neighbors.

That amounts to about $67 billion that has stayed in local communities since Small Business Saturday began, according to American Express.

The American Express survey showed that when consumers are aware of the impact of spending their dollars locally, 75 percent said they would be more likely to purchase a product or service from small, independently owned businesses.

Shopping small isn’t just a Thanksgiving weekend retail event, but a year-long movement, according to American Express, which says it is launching a marketing campaign to make consumers more aware of the impact they can have on their communities when they support local businesses.

“We believe in backing small businesses because we know they strengthen the communities where we live and work,” Anna Marrs, president of Global Commercial Services at American Express, said in the news release.

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