Susan Johnson

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Small Business Saturday is tomorrow, and it's a great opportunity to support our local entrepreneurs, artisans, and small stores that make our community unique and vibrant.

Some of these businesses are still working to recover from the pandemic. Your support can make a significant difference in helping your favorites shops, bookstores, or restaurants bounce back and thrive. The resilience they've shown during such challenging times is truly admirable.

I spoke with several local business owners about their Small Business Saturday plans on my weekly public affairs radio show “Let’s Talk About It.” Jewels Verne Jewelry Store on Main Street will offer a sale, refreshments, and a live band called “November Sound.” The group gave us a taste of their performance on the show! Bliss Market Place, which includes Willimantic Records, will have a sale on clothing, jewelry, framing, soaps, records, and much more.

We also talked about all the downtown restaurants that will be serving some amazing food on Saturday. Click on the video below to watch the entire show.

Small Business Saturday in downtown Willimantic

Here are other local businesses that are taking part in tomorrow’s deals:

• Thread City Diner
• Kerri Art Studio and Gallery
• Zok’s Homebrewing & Winemaking Supplies
• Lily Pad Art Supplies and Framing
• Willimantic Food Co-Op

CLICK HERE for a full list of all participating businesses.

By choosing to shop local, we're not just making purchases; we're investing in our community's vitality and ensuring that these businesses can continue to create jobs, offer unique products and services, and help stimulate our local economy. Let's come together this holiday season to celebrate and support them. It's a powerful way to show solidarity and make a difference.
 
My colleagues and I doubled down by supporting small businesses during the 2023 legislative session.

With the holiday season quickly approaching, you may want to consider buying gift cards and certificates from a local business. According to Boost Suite, there are 350,376 small businesses in our state, which make up 99% of all businesses in Connecticut. To find small businesses in your area, please click here. 
 
Thank you for supporting our locally owned businesses. I wish you and your family a happy holiday season.