LONG ISLAND CITY — While big box stores might get all the attention on Black Friday, independent businesses in Western Queens will be offering deals and specials on Small Business Saturday.
The nationwide shopping holiday will take place Nov. 30, and neighborhood shops across the city will be urging residents to kick off their holiday shopping season by keeping it local.
A group of local retailers and restaurants in Long Island City are offering different deals on Saturday. Participants include Tiny You, Pet Island, Earth + Sky Healing Arts, LIC: Living, Floresta, Vernon Wine and Liquor, and eateries Alewife NYC, Opendoor, Shi, and Riverview.
Beer hall Alewife NYC will be giving out food and drink specials to customers who show a receipt from a group of other participating businesses, while clothing and lifestyle shop LIC: Living is offering a similar deal, giving a 20 percent discount to customers with a receipt from another neighborhood shop on the list.
LIC: Living, at 5-35 51st Ave., will also have 15 percent off storewide, and will be offering small bites from Opendoor, sparkling wine, face painting for kids and complimentary gift wrapping, according to the the store's Facebook page.
Shoppers looking to stock up on libations for the holidays can visit Vernon Wine and Liquor at 50-06 Vernon Blvd., where all wines will be 10 percent off on Saturday, according to the store's owner.
In Astoria, boutique Lockwood Shop will be having a day of sales and activities to celebrate Small Business Saturday, including a pop-up shop from Native Coffee Roasters, who will be selling their locally roasted beans and giving samples of their coffee to customers.
The store will also doling out goodie bags filled with treats to shoppers who spend $100 or more, and Astoria map tote bags to those who spend $250 and up.
The Astoria Bookshop at 31-29 31st St. will be giving discounts on some of its favorite titles, while pet store The Jumping Bulldog, at 28-10 23rd Ave., will take 10 percent off everything in the shop (with the exception of grooming, food and treats).
In Sunnyside, new beauty salon Kmia at 45-14 Queens Blvd. will be giving 10 percent discounts on all services to any customers who pay with an American Express card, according to the owner.
