BALTIMORE—Mayor Brandon M. Scott, the Mayor’s Office of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development, and Baltimore Main Streets kicked off Small Business Saturday with a citywide shopping tour on Saturday, November 30, 2024.

“Every year, Small Business Saturday offers us the opportunity to highlight the businesses, entrepreneurs, and neighbors who keep our communities together,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “I looked forward to celebrating once again with so many Baltimore business owners across the city and shining a light on some of the spots that make Baltimore so special.”

Mayor Brandon Scott with Wanda Best, Executive Director, Uptown Planning Committee; and Annie Hall, President, Penn North Community Association, Inc. during the visit to the Pennsylvania Avenue Main Street.
Photo Credit: Office of the Mayor

Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and has been officially co-sponsored by the Small Business Administration since 2011. It took place the day after Black Friday and was an annual global awareness campaign to support small and local businesses. The year 2024 marked 15 years of the campaign’s existence.

Sidney of Sidney’s Ice Cream located on Belair-Edison Main Street.
Photo Credit: Baltimore Times

“Small businesses carry some of the best treasures, and together we can keep them thriving,” said Charlyn Nater, Director of Baltimore Main Streets. “Behind every small business is a story. This Small Business Saturday, be part of it by joining the Baltimore Main Street Program and shopping locally!”  

(l-r) Councilwoman Odette Ramos (District 14); Mayor Scott (holding up his newly purchased James Brown album); Rupert Wondolowski, Co-owner of Normal’s Books & Records (Waverly Main Street); and Diana Emerson, Executive Director of Waverly Main Street.
Photo Credit: Office of the Mayor

The event kicked off at 8 a.m. at The Stoop Café in Pigtown. Throughout the day, Mayor Scott shopped at local businesses within the eight Baltimore Main Streets: Pigtown, Federal Hill, Fells Point, Pennsylvania Avenue, Park Heights, Waverly, Belair-Edison, and Hamilton-Lauraville.

Main Streets Charlyn Nater, Director, strikes a pose in her newly purchased jacket from Retrospect Village(Vintage clothing and accessories boutique) located in Federal Hill Main Street. 
Photo Credit: Baltimore Times

At 4:30 p.m., Stop 17 was The Flower Cart, a boutique flower shop. Tour 16 included Flourish and Nourish, a holistic wellness store offering herbal teas, crystals, candles, and more.

The holiday season is a great opportunity for small businesses to increase foot traffic from consumers in their neighborhoods. According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, small businesses in Baltimore City employed more than 300,000 workers and generated over $19 billion in payroll for the local economy.

Owners of Highlandtown Protein House and the Laser Jewelry and their team members with Mayor Scott and Charlyn Nater, Director of Main Streets.
Photo Credit: Office of the Mayor

“I look forward to this event annually to give much-deserved attention to our fantastic local small businesses,” said Christopher R. Lundy, Esq., Director of Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development. “Small Business Saturday is the kickoff of the holiday shopping season and a reminder of the impact that we can have by shopping locally. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Spending locally benefits not just the individual business owners but also their employees, and families, and strengthens our community.”

(l-r) Julia Fleichaker, owner of Greedy Reads located in Fells Point Main Street District and Ginny Longhorn of Main Streets.
Photo Credit: Baltimore Times

Additionally, Mayor Scott, the Small and Minority Business Advocacy & Development, and Baltimore Main Streets encouraged Baltimore City residents to shop local and support small businesses from December 1 through December 24, 2024.

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