Duluth celebrates Small Business Saturday

DULUTH, Minn. — Over the weekend, people across the nation spent their hard-earned money at locally owned businesses in support of Small Business Saturday.

The national holiday takes place each year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. This gives small businesses extra support throughout the holiday season. Here in the Northland, people came out to support a variety of small businesses, like Zeitgeist and Hucklebeary, who partnered together to offer a family-friendly shopping day in downtown. Between the two businesses, there was an art show, crafts, a hot cocoa bar, food, gift cards, and a special showing of The Muppet Christmas Carol.

“It’s such a great way to just get people moving around the heart district and going from one business to the next,” said Sara Rolfson, business director at Zeitgeist. “So it’s super fun to see all of those faces out on the streets and just enjoying this Christmas holiday.”

For Hucklebeary, a locally owned shop in downtown, Small Business Saturday is extra important as it doubles as its anniversary.

“Small Business Saturday is an important day for us,” said Emily Ekstrom, owner of Hucklebeary. “It is our eighth birthday, because that’s when we opened. Your green means something. So when you spend your dollar somewhere, it’s showing that you support small businesses like ours. And we want to thank you for coming out and supporting local.”

The owner of Hucklebeary, Emily Ekstrom, says shopping local can and does make a difference all year long.