Small Business Saturday 2020: Help Businesses In Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Small businesses have been the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic, making Small Business Saturday in 2020 more vital than ever.

Independently owned boutiques, gift shops, mom-and-pop hardware stores, restaurants and more in Falls Church are facing unprecedented challenges due to coronavirus-related restrictions and shutdowns. In Falls Church, Mayor David Tarter has proclaimed November as Live Local Month. The mayor joins local businesses and the Falls Church Chamber of Commerce in encouraging residents to pledge keeping 20 percent or more of their spending in the city in November.

The list of Small Business Saturday participants from American Express continues to grow, despite the pandemic. Whether you are buying holiday gifts or want a meal from a local restaurant, Falls Church has plenty of businesses to support. Here are some of the businesses that have signed up so far:

• Northside Social Falls Church
• Liberty Barbecue
• Ireland's Four Provinces
• Dogwood Tavern
• Mike's Deli at Lazy Sundae
• Pizzeria Orso
• Thompson Italian
• Haandi Indian Restaurnat
• Happy Lamb Hot Pot
• Rare Bird Coffee Roasters
• Doodlehopper 4 Kids
• Brown's Hardware
• The State Theatre
• Sfizi Cafe
• Firepan Korean BBQ
• Eden Supermarket
• Takumi
• Rsi Thai
• Maneki Neko
• Bill Page Toyota Scion
• Super Chicken
• Safa Halal Mart
• Present Restaurant
• Dominion Jewelers
• Sweet Rice
• Victory Comics
• Spectrum Cleaners
• Koi Koi Sushi & Roll
• Fdanews
• Classic Cleaners
• Hunan Cafe
• The Caribbean Plate
• Bikenetic
• Good Fortune Supermarket
• Huong Binh Bakery
• Clay Cafe Studios
• Dry Clean Nova
• Troika Gastronom
• Kao Sarn
• Fatouche
• Wing Sheng Bakery
• Infini-Tea
• American Lube
• Centerwatch
• Centerwatch
• Babylon Market
• Fairfax Auto Parts
• Lemon Lane Consignment
• Kids First Fall Church
• Nail Bonita
• FIT4MOM Falls Church Vienna Fairfax
• Steakholders
• Ten Pizza
• Clare & Don's Beach Shack
• Saffron Indian Cuisine
• Plaka Grill
• Moby Dick House of Kabob
• Dominion Wine and Beer

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

ALSO ON PATCH: Falls Church Business Guide

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.

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.