Oneonta Downtown Renaissance by Cassandra Miller
Small Businesses Need Community Support
Downtown Oneonta is home to more than 60 locally owned businesses, where every purchase supports small businesses and strengthens our local economy. For 15 years, the Saturday after Thanksgiving has been celebrated as “Small Business Saturday,” a coordinated effort to encourage shopping small instead of chasing the extended “Black Friday” sales that often feel more like a months-long shopping frenzy that benefits massive corporations.
According to the Small Business Index, eight in 10 small businesses say the holiday season is important for their overall profit. Small businesses often rely on holiday shopping for a significant amount of their annual revenue. Not a lot of shoppers are flooding stores come Dry January.
So, consider shopping small this Small Business Saturday—and the entire holiday season. This Saturday, take a stroll down Main Street and check out some of the more than 60 locally-owned businesses in Oneonta’s downtown. While you’re popping into the Artisans Guild and Maxwell’s, Freestyle Confections and Stoneonta, you can also enjoy complimentary hot cocoa from FOR-DO in its new spaces next to Tino’s Pizza from 2-5 p.m.
Another highlight this Small Business Saturday is Wolfhound Studio’s open house and print sale. The in-demand tattoo studio is often open by appointment only, so this is a rare chance to see local artist James McIlroy’s beautiful space and pick up some art. Next door to Wolfhound is Elizabeth McIlroy’s (who happens to be married to James) vintage and unique gift shop, The Underground Attic.
Elizabeth grew up in Laurens, went to SUNY Oneonta, and has operated The Underground Attic on Main Street for 10 years. She recently published a public post with some thoughts about running a small business in “An Open Letter to My Fellow Oneontans and to What I Know is Possible,” which has been shared and/or liked on Facebook more than 200 times. Part of her letter is quoted here with her permission.
“I genuinely love it here. I love the beautiful parks, the amazing community of interesting and kind people, and the relaxed pace of life, all with easy access to some major cities.
