Oneonta Downtown Renaissance by Cassandra Miller

A Friendly Reminder to Shop Small This Holiday Season

Downtown Oneonta has more than 60 locally-owned businesses. You can walk from Clinton Plaza to Elm Street and find everything from unique ornaments and hard-to-find games to vintage treasures and the latest Louise Penny book. While you’re strolling, you can stop at any of the 25 dining establishments and markets for a delicious bite to eat, including at least three spots serving the Oneonta delicacy of cold-cheese pizza.

Downtown is the heartbeat of Oneonta. Every dollar spent at a local small business helps our community and is an investment in the future. While Market Street is getting its facelift, Main Street and the surrounding side streets still offer free parking. Our downtown is beautiful, and walking a block or two to support downtown businesses if you’re physically able is another way to enjoy our city. For those unable to walk long distances, several downtown businesses offer convenient curbside pickup or delivery options.

Elected officials are hard at work coming up with solutions that address residents’ concerns, including making sure downtown and all of Oneonta is safe and welcoming. One way we can contribute to this effort is by going downtown, shopping small, and ensuring that our neighbors’ businesses succeed and continue to help make Main Street and the surrounding area vibrant and a place people want to be.

The U.S. Small Business Administration is supporting a couple of campaigns right now, including the “Season of Small Business” and “Small Business Saturday.” According to the Small Business Index, eight in 10 small businesses say the holiday season is important for their overall profit. Constant Contact reports that the majority of small businesses rely on holiday shopping for at least one-quarter of their annual revenue. This time of year is more important than ever to shop small.

Another event is Small Business Saturday, which encourages holiday shopping on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and kicks off one of the busiest shopping times of the year. This year, Small Business Saturday is November 30. Oneonta downtown businesses are already planning promotions and offering extra activities to welcome shoppers into their stores.

Last year, I did a lot of my holiday shopping during Small Business Saturday. I stopped by The Underground Attic and found dainty earrings and beautifully packaged lip balms for my nieces. The store added to the festive spirit by offering cups of hot cocoa for shoppers. Around the corner at Community Arts Network of Oneonta’s holiday market, local artisans were selling their goods. I added velour hair scrunchies to my nieces’ gifts and picked up a bottle of delicious hot sauce for my boyfriend’s Christmas gift.

The Season of Small Business is happening now through December. Community matters more than ever in these politically divided times. What we can all agree on is that we want our community to be a great place to live. We can do that by supporting our businesses and shopping small this season.

I’ll be doing a series of business round-ups over the next few weeks to offer suggestions for places to shop this holiday season for unique gifts and ways to enjoy our beautiful downtown, starting with this list of stores where you can find new-to-you items.

Downtown Oneonta Thrift and Vintage Shops

Shakedown Street: Named after a Grateful Dead song, this funky thrift shop specializes in trendy vintage pieces, band T-shirts, and fair trade items.

The Underground Attic: With one of the most beautifully merchandised spaces downtown, The Underground Attic offers both unique vintage items and new gifts like candles and jewelry.

Silks and Treasures Consignment Shop: This store has the largest selection of clothing and home goods of any of the locally owned thrift shops downtown. You can find everything from holiday decor items to a brand-new winter coat.

Helping Hands Thrift and Gift Shop: Located in the old parish building next to Huntington Library, sales made at this eclectic donation-based store support purchases of items like gift cards, sleeping bags and pillows for unhoused people.

Cassandra Miller is a member of the Oneonta Downtown Renaissance Steering Committee and the editor of the “Townie” Substack newsletter.