Vehicles line the storefront on Cherry Street in Jamestown during Small Business Saturday. P-J photo by Jordan W. Patterson

On the heels of Black Friday and two days before Cyber Monday, local businesses promote Small Business Saturday as a way to include smaller businesses during holiday shopping.

Many local businesses in Jamestown partnered with the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation to give local shoppers a chance to win free items if they purchased over $10 worth of items from a particular shop as part of a “Shop Small, Win Big” promotion. This promotion began Saturday and will run until Dec. 8 in Jamestown.

While cashing out customers, Tim Palmgreen, owner of Decor & More in Jamestown, said there was an uptick of customers coming into his store on Small Business Saturday.

“I think it helps,” Palmgreen said of the local shopping event. “People try to support the downtown businesses.”

Palmgreen and his store partnered with American Express as part of the “Shop Small” campaign in which American Express provides posters, balloons, flags and tote bags.

“I notice an uptick in sales on Small Business Saturday,” Palmgreen said. “It also helps too with Jamestown Renaissance (Corporation).

Palmgreen left the Jamestown area 17 years ago for Las Vegas. He returned two years ago and opened up his gift shop comprised of, “a little bit of everything.”

Palmgreen reminisced about a time when small, local businesses were more prominent in the downtown area. He even said he could notice a big change from 17 years ago when he left compared to the day he returned and started his business two years ago.

“It’d be nice if we could get more retail downtown,” Palmgreen said.

Palmgreen was optimistic the new Comedy Center will help local businesses.

Jessica Cobb, photographer for Boudoir Photography, said Small Business Saturday doesn’t necessarily affect her business, she would love to see more small businesses downtown.

“I think it’s more of cause than an action,” Cobb said of Small Business Saturday.

She said people like to talk about supporting small businesses rather than actually going out on a Saturday and shopping at local stores.

On the other side of downtown, Ann Powers of Lander’s Men’s Store, said her and her husband, Cliff Powers, noticed much more business on Small Business Saturday than a normal business day.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Powers said. “It helps bring the attention to small businesses and the struggles that we have.”

Powers recalled a time when the city of Jamestown would host an open house downtown on Sunday, where all businesses would host their own open house to promote their stores.

“It was so busy that the streets were lined with people,” Powers said.

Powers said the previous promotional day slowly died out but is hopeful Small Business Saturday will continue and promote local business.

For Geneva Coan, owner of GypsyMoon Cake Co., downtown Jamestown depends on local shops and the support from community members. Coan, in connection with Small Business Saturday, hosted her grand opening on Saturday, too.

“I’m really hoping people come out everywhere downtown,” Coan said. “Because if they don’t, there won’t be a downtown anymore.”