By Sunayana Prabhu
Not everyone is built to fight the crowds for discounted Black Friday deals. If you want to skip the mall, shop small. Celebrate Small Business Saturday Nov. 26 with the diminutive but natty stores in the Two River area which are gearing up to welcome all for a day of special discounts.
Small Business Saturday takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving; it has grown into a national day to encourage everyone to shop local. This year, Red Bank River Center is introducing Red Bank Bucks. On Saturday morning River Center will hand out Red Bank Bucks to the first 200 people who walk through its doors at 140 Broad St. The coupons will be worth $25 each and can be used at any participating downtown Red Bank merchant. The list of stores included in the event can be found at redbank.org/event/small-business-saturday.
Atlantic Highlands Arts Council presents its annual pop-up Holiday Makers Market in its gallery space at 54 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands. The market will be a part of Small Business Saturday Nov. 26 and continues through Nov. 27 and again on Saturday, Dec. 3 – the day of the Atlantic Highlands tree lighting just down the street – and Sunday, Dec. 4.
Shoppers will get a chance to meet the people who made the items. Each day will have a different mix of local makers selling their more affordable creations directly to the public. A variety of handmade goods will be available: paintings, clothing, woodblock prints, jewelry, ceramics, stained glass and more.
Check with your town or borough’s website or Facebook page to see the shops that may be offering Small Business Saturday sales and promotions in your town.
The article originally appeared in the November 24 – 30, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
