As the holiday season approaches, the Downtown Long Beach Alliance invites you to take a deep breath, get your gift list together, head Downtown, catch a free double-decker bus or trolley and get rolling with your holiday shopping on Shop Small Saturday.
The nationwide event, sponsored by American Express, happens Downtown on November 30 from 11am to 5pm. This is the second year the DLBA has partnered with American Express on Shop Small Saturday, which was created by AmEx ten years ago as an alternative to the often-overwhelming Black Friday shopping experience.
This will be a great day to support your neighbors, the small businesses of Downtown Long Beach, who help keep our community vibrant and connected. These businesses look forward to giving you enthusiastic and informed service with a personal touch during the holiday season and throughout the year.
“Downtown Long Beach is full of fun and unique small businesses,” said Laurie Gray, CEO and Founder of the Pie Bar on Pine Avenue. “Support a small business and you’re supporting someone’s dream.”
DLBA has been designated as a “Neighborhood Champion” by AmEx due to its efforts recruiting local small businesses for the event.
“DLBA has been a proud supporter of shopping local year-round, and we are honored to once again team up with American Express to serve as a 2019 Neighborhood Champion and make this year’s Small Business Saturday an even bigger success,” said Nalysia Tea, DLBA Events Coordinator.
Approximately 50 distinctive Downtown shops will participate in this year’s Shop Small Saturday. MADE by Millworks on Pine Avenue will serve as the main transportation hub, and each of the Downtown areas—Downtown Core, Pine Avenue Corridor, East Village, and Waterfront—will provide a welcoming station with art and music.
At the welcoming station, shoppers will receive a Shop Small Passport and Holiday Guide which will serve as a map and a heads-up on special Downtown holiday deals. American Express will be giving away tote bags and other swag.
Participating businesses will be featured on both a printed handout and the DLBA website Shop Small Saturday page.
Here are just a few Shop Small Saturday specials already committed for the day: The Pie Bar is giving a 20 percent discount on all sliced pie; Hops & Vines is offering a 10 percent discount on craft beer and wine; Confidential Coffee is offering 10 percent off house specials and a free drip coffee with every purchased bag of coffee; 6th and Detroit is offering 15 percent discounts, and there will be a special pop-up collaboration with Bakewell LB Pop Up and 2 Vintage Clothing.
Courtesy of the City of Long Beach and DLBA, all on-street metered parking north of Seaside Way will be free all day, as will parking in lot C off of Third Street between Long Beach Boulevard and Pine Avenue.
With a diverse array of shopping and dining options so close by, along with art, entertainment and some sweet deals, Shop Small Saturday in Downtown Long Beach promises to be the perfect start to your holiday season.
“Join us for Shop Small Saturday!” said Tea. “It will be a record-breaking year for Downtown Long Beach participation in celebrating and supporting small businesses.”