ST. LOUIS — Black Friday was quiet along Delmar Boulevard. Shoppers, employees and business owners hope that Saturday will be bustling.
"When you shop small it supports those local businesses, gives to the economy and you're going to make that shopping experience with someone who really appreciates your business so your dollar goes so much further," encouraged Felice McClendon the Executive Director of Delmar Main Street.
McClendon knows a thing or two about shopping, she's the executive director of Delmar Main Street. She says there are over 240 businesses in the Delmar corridor.
On Saturday, Nov. 30, Delmar Main Street will host over 50 small businesses for their second Holiday Expo. From 11 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Louis-based shops will showcase their wares at the Delmar DivINE.
Before the shopping fun begins, Delmar Main Street will host a "Shark Tank"-style pitch competition. Six finalists will have six minutes to pitch their business for a chance at $6,000. The pitch competition will take place at the Delmar DivINE from 8:30-11 a.m.
Down the street from Delmar Divine, Third Degree Glass Factory will host their "Seconds Sale." Beautiful pieces, some with barely noticeable imperfections, will be on sale from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Go a little further and you'll find yourself at Subterranean Books.
"We love recommending books we personally love," bookseller Gena Brady said with a smile. While Subterranean Books won't have a big sale, all staff picks will be 10% off.
Jerry Thomeczek stops into Subterranean Books regularly.
"I think that there's a community feel to them that you don't get at the big stores," Thomeczek said. "I feel like they do a better job of curating good picks and displaying fun books."
The personal touch is something Brady says you can't get in a corporate store: "Everyone on staff gets to put their mark on the store. So we are all involved in making displays and picking what we stock."
"Shopping small is so important because the tax dollars you spend in small businesses stay in your community," explains Brady, "we're paying taxes to help with schools and community services and when you're using bigger corporations that aren't necessarily based in your community, they may not have as big of a stake in what's going on."