SWEET COMMERCE
Small Business Saturday brings traditions, shoppers back to downtown
TROY, N.Y. » There is something about shopping downtown for the holidays that is different from every other place and every other time of year.
Whether it’s the architecture found in downtown shopping districts like those in Troy, Cohoes, and Saratoga Springs, or just the time of year, there is something emotional about walking on sidewalks from store to store in the open air that big box stores and malls can’t match.
That emotional attachment can make couples stop on a corner and share a kiss or motivate a young man to display youthful vigor by climbing a lamp post for a photo.
The Small Business Sat- urday saw that and more in all three downtowns.
The day started early across the river from Troy at the Olde Mercantile, 130 Remsen St., Cohoes. Owner Dolores Bacon took an old Masonic Temple and turned it into a labyrinth of areas for artisans to sell their one- ofa-kind wares. By 10:30 a.m. the place was packed.
“We come once a month. I love it,” said Cathy Saraynski as she checked out with a small artificial Christmas tree and some ornaments. “We come over from Colonie. I like all the crafts that are homemade and the ambiance.”
Shelia Ogden was shopping in another space with Casey Flaherty.
“This is the first time I’ve been here,” Ogden said. “There’s a lot of ideas for decorating.”
“And a lot of cute dec-
“We came out because it’s Small Business Saturday. It’s good to support local businesses. I come here a couple of times a year. You can get small unique gifts.” — Kristi Geary, shopper
orations,” added Flaherty.
In another aisle Joanna Doggett, dressed as Mrs. Claus, shopped for her North Pole elves and handed out miniature candy canes.
“I’m looking for the perfect gift for Mr. Claus,” she said. “It’s almost like an indoor country market. Everything here is original so I can’t find it anywhere else. I can find things here for the elves that they can’t make and I won’t have to pay them in cookies.”
Back in Troy, the Counties of Ireland shop, 77 Third St., was seeing a steady stream of clients perusing Irish clothing and jewelry. Kristi Geary came to the store with her mother.
“We came out because it’s Small Business Saturday,” she said. “It’s good to support local businesses. I come here a couple of times a year. You can get small unique gifts. Today I’m looking for a hat.”
Up the street Romanation Jewelers, 48 Third St., was participating in Small Business Saturday as well as celebrating the store’s 65th year in business. Owner James Cook began working there right out of high school and bought the business from the man he still refers to as Mr. Romanation.
“We had 25 percent off everything yesterday and today and yes, we have been busy,” Cook said from behind a counter. “They’re not just looking. People are buying. Diamond earrings have been very popular this
year and we always do well with our antique and estate jewelry. The rings and bracelets are the most popular items there. I think it’s because they are one of a kind and because of the workmanship.”
One of those who was buying was Laurie Petteys.
“This is our favorite jewelry store and we love working with Jim,” she said as she pointed to a pendant.
One of the more unique starts for a small business came from Bella V Boutique, 451 Broadway. Lorena Nazario began the business as a traveling boutique working out of a colorfully painted step van. When she went to a bricks and mortar store Melissa Convertino joined her as a partner.
“When Lorena started out a bricks and mortar store was too expensive,” Convertino said. “The traveling or mobile boutiques are more popular in the bigger cities. We sell boutique designers’ creations. We have a 30 percent Small Business Saturday sale and that has drawn some interest today.”
The streets were a bit more crowded in Saratoga Springs on Saturday, but the ambiance of strolling on a sidewalk from shop to shop was much the same.
Inside toy store G. Willikers, 461 Broadway, the air was filled with childhood anticipation or memories depending on whose eyes were doing the looking.
As her two grandchildren went from shelf to shelf looking for items to add to their list for Santa, their grandmother Patti Borisenok described the day so far.
“We’re out for Small Business Saturday,” she said. “Each girl used their Halloween money and bought a book at the Northshire Books and now we’re here looking for ideas that Santa may bring.”
In another aisle, Tara Snow and her daughter Brooke, 4, from Garden City, N.Y. were doing the same thing.
“It’s important to keep small business. It helps keep a downtown in business,” Tara Snow said. “You want things that are walk- able otherwise you have to drive everywhere.”
Matthew Costello and wife, Julie, from Connecticut were also in town for the start of the holidays. The couple was celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary. After selecting a handful of racing prints for their home from the stacks in Crafters Gallery, 427 Broadway, they described their affection for the city.
“We love Saratoga,” Matthew Costello said. “We originally started coming here for the races in the summer and then we started coming over for Thanksgiving. This is like coming back to the old days. There’s not too many places where you get this feel. It’s a throwback. There are traditions here.”
“We love the history,” added Julie Costello. “We even stopped in to see the renovations on the Adel- phi Hotel. We came out today because we want to help the small businesses. My parents owned a small business, a dairy farm. You have to shop in the small businesses so they can con- tinue.”
Two city residents doing just that in Northshire Books, 424 Broadway, were Colleen Haverly and Bill Fox. Each came
from somewhere else before putting down roots in the city. They both remember watching it change for the better before their eyes.
“Small Business Saturday means a chance to give back,” Haverly said. “It’s a chance to visit smaller stores that you wouldn’t see in a mall. And, you bump into people as you’re on the sidewalks that you haven’t seen in a while. This has been well thought out, well planned. Kudos to those that did it. Women like to shop and there is a good mix of stores here along with restaurants, coffee shops, and bars where you can stop in for a quick drink.”
Fox, originally from Long Island, has been a city resident since 2002. In that time, he also has seen the changes to Broadway and noticed an influx of high- end vehicles. He gave one suggestion as to how the number could be increased.
“They could use one high end anchor store on Broadway,” he said. “You only need one and you would see the number of those cars increase exponentially.”