Small Business Saturday 2020: Help Them Stay Afloat In Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ — Small businesses have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, making Small Business Saturday in 2020 more vital than ever. This year, the all-local shopping event falls on Nov. 28 including in Princeton.

Independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and the like in Princeton are facing unprecedented challenges due to coronavirus-related restrictions and shutdowns.

The list of Small Business Saturday participants continues to grow, despite the pandemic. Here’s some of the businesses that have signed up so far:

• Witherspoon Grill, 57 Witherspoon St
• Mediterra Restaurant, 29 Hulfish St
• Mistral, 66 Witherspoon St
• Tacoria, 110 Nassau St
• Pus Nassau Street, 114 Nassau St
• Agricola eatery, 11 Witherspoon St
• Nomad Pizza, 301 N Harrison St
• The Alchemist & Barrister Restaurant, 28 Witherspoon St
• Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street
• Nassau Inn, 10 Palmer Sq E
• Pj's Pancake House, 154 Nassau St
• Halo Pub, 9 Hulfish St
• House Of Cupcakes, 32 Witherspoon St
• Local Greek, 44 Leigh Ave
• Contes Bar, 339 Witherspoon St
• Noodle House Kung Fu Tea, 256 Nassau Street
• Landau's, 102 Nassau St
• Tiger Noodles, 252 Nassau St
• Chez Alice, 5 Palmer Square W
• La Mezzaluna Restaurant, 23-25 Witherspoon St
• Witherspoon Bread Co., 74 Witherspoon St
• Efes Mediterranean Grill, 235 Nassau St Ste 4643
• Shanghai Park, 301 N Harrison St Ste 33
• Claridge Wine & Liquor, 301 N Harrison St
• Surf Taco – Princeton, 301 N. Harrison St.
• Metropolis Salon, 301 N Harrison St, Ste 5
• Kristines, 51 Witherspoon St
• Homestead Princeton, 43 Hulfish St
• Lillipies Bakery, Miscellaneous Retail Store
• Concord Pet Foods & Supplies, 301 North Harrison St
• Mystique Hair & Skin, 3535 Us Highway 1 Ste 180
• Olsson's Fine Foods, 53 Palmer Square West

Read More Here: NJ Patch Local Business Information Center: A Community Resource.

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

Temporary closures, capacity restrictions, decreased demand for products and services and delays due to supply-chain issues have led to unprecedented challenges for small-business owners.

But the “Shop Small” movement continues amid these hardships.

“This holiday season looks a little different, but we can still share joy,” American Express, which established Small Business Saturday in 2010, said in a statement. “Shop small and support your favorite small businesses — both in store and online — all holiday season long.”

Sixty-two percent of small businesses in the United States need to see sales income return to the same rate it was pre-pandemic before the end of the year to stay in business, according to American Express.

These businesses, many family-owned, were already fighting for survival against malls, big box stores and online retailers before the pandemic.

“Small businesses have an immeasurable effect on the quality of life in neighborhoods by providing necessary resources and supporting a local ecosystem that includes charitable organizations, schools and churches,” said Caroline Connors, executive director of the Morgan Park Beverly Hills Business Association, an organization that supports small businesses on the South Side of Chicago.

Since 2010, local business supporters have spent more than $100 billion on Small Business Saturday, according to American Express.

A Shop Small Consumer Impact survey from American Express before the pandemic 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 affect their local communities.

The 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.

For every dollar spent at a U.S. small business, approximately 67 cents stays in the local community, according to American Express. This helps independent shops and restaurants keep their doors open and meet pay for 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.

“With so many small businesses hit hard in 2020, it’s more important than ever to shop locally this holiday season to ensure they are able to continue operating in 2021,” Connors said.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.