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After Black Friday Comes 'Shop Small Business Saturday' With Plenty Of Options In Ann Arbor

Lisa Barry

With a lot of people shopping at major retail stores today on Black Friday, there is a growing trend to make Saturday more about supporting local businesses.

Saturday is considered Small Business Saturday, where shoppers are encouraged to support local businesses and do their shopping at local retailers.

In Ann Arbor, the State Street District kicks off that effort with "Moonlight Madness" on December 1st, but association executive director Frances Todorosays there are many reasons to shop and visit this busy part of Ann Arbor, especially during Small Business Saturday.

"I think to keep having that cultural experience of getting to know the owners, having the owners in your community active in your community, supporting your neighbors, sharing the tradition of seasonal shopping and being out in a community and the hustle and bustle of the sidewalks, those things are just really exciting," says Todoro.

To kick off the holiday season, a familiar State Street district landmark will light up the area of State and Liberty Streets on December 1st.

Credit Lisa Barry
The State Theatre marquee will light up the holidays when it's turned back on on December 1st. The theater has been closed for months for renovations and is scheduled to re-open on December 8.

"We’ll be in some ways lighting our own special Christmas tree with the State Theatre marquee.  It will be re-lit after being closed down for renovations for so many months,” says Todoro.  “The theatre itself is going to open the following week on December 8th.”

The Ann Arbor State Street District director says there are plenty of shopping and dining options for those who want to support Small Business Saturday locally.

"To keep that experience and to keep the businesses that you’re going to find that one thing that you’re not necessarily going to find so easily online, and also the customer experience and being able to go into, whether it be a retailer or a restaurant, where they know who you are.  It feels comfortable shopping there,” says Todoro.

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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu

Lisa Barry was a reporter, and host of All Things Considered on 89.1 WEMU.
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