COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – Across Old Colorado City Friday, local shop owners spent Black Friday preparing for what many describe as the most important day of their season. Merchants in the area said they believe Small Business Saturday brings families, neighbors and visitors together in ways that big-box shopping never could.
Centennial Cuts Mercantile manager Jennifer Riddle said the weekend reflects the spirit of the community.
“It is about community. It is about bringing families down here to Old Colorado City,” Riddle said.
The district will host its annual Christmas Stroll on Saturday, complete with carolers, Santa, reindeer and a passport guiding families from shop to shop. Many stores said the event turns holiday shopping into something meaningful.
“When we do that, it makes shopping more fun. It is family oriented. You stamp the passport, go store to store, and get hot chocolate. It brings people together,” Riddle said.
Some businesses share more than foot traffic. At Eclectic OCC, a cooperative of more than 75 local vendors, owners rely on one another throughout the year. Manager Emma Hunter said the collaboration is what keeps many small shops open.
“We are not out for just our own business. If everybody thrives, then everybody else thrives as well,” Hunter said.
Hunter said that for new creators, having a built-in network offers guidance, reassurance and a place to grow during busy and slow seasons.
For longtime business owners, that support is not new. Jewels Burdick, founder of Simple Body, has worked on the west side for 15 years and said the neighborhood’s unity is unlike anywhere else.
“If the other businesses in our neighborhood thrive, then we thrive,” Burdick said. “We refer people to each other all day long, and yes, sometimes we cry on each other’s shoulders.”
Burdick said the choice to shop local impacts the entire west side. Most of every dollar spent stays in the community, strengthening the local economy and helping shops continue their work.
For shoppers unsure about stepping away from larger chains, owners say Old Colorado City offers something they cannot find elsewhere.
“You can find something completely unique, something just for that person, right here in Old Colorado City,” Riddle said.
From specialty goods to handmade products, business owners said Saturday’s event offers more than sales. It offers connection, character and a reminder of what keeps their neighborhood thriving.
They said Small Business Saturday is not about competing. It is about keeping a community alive.
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