DITMARS — Nearly a dozen small businesses — from the neighborhood book shop to its record store — will take part in a "retail crawl" through Astoria this Saturday to encourage residents to shop local this holiday season.
The event will feature specials and deals at the participating stores, and patrons who shop at six or more of the businesses will be entered into a raffle to win a gift basket filled with local goodies from all of them.
"There are so many great businesses in Astoria," said Nicole Panettieri, owner of The Brass Owl boutique on Ditmars Boulevard.
She organized the event in part to raise awareness about the neighborhoods' booming retail scene, and to let residents know they don't need to head into Manhattan for their holiday shopping.
"There is actual retail in Astoria. It's not just restaurants," she said.
The Brass Owl — which opened last year selling shoes, jewelry and other accessories — will be running a number of specials throughout the day, offering mimosas and desserts to shoppers while DJs will be spinning music.
Shoes at the store will be 15 percent off, clearance items will half off and shoppers who spend $10 or more will get a free special gift.
At the Astoria Bookshop, children's book illustrator Isabel Roxas will appear in the morning, and the store will offer gifts with purchases throughout the day, like bookmarks and tote bags.
Boutiques Lockwood and Lockwood Style will give out surprise "treats" throughout the day (hints on their Facebook page looks like this may include delicious pastries) while items at the stores will be 15 percent off.
New gaming store The Geekery will run specials all weekend, with 25 percent off select items and raffle prizes.
Other stores participating in the Retail Crawl include HiFi Records, clothing stores Belief NYC and LoveDoy 31, The Little Soap Shop, gifts and home goods store Inside Astoria and Broadway Silk.
Shoppers can pick up a punch card at any of the participating stores, and those who buy an item at least six of them will get a chance to win a prize pack with about $400 worth of gifts from each shop, as well as a bottle of wine from Crescent Wine & Spirits.
Panettieri said the gifts and specials are a way to celebrate customers who frequent their neighborhood mom-and-pop shops.
"I thought it would be fun to do something to kind of reward those poeple for really getting out there and supporting their local businesses," she said.
Looking for more local gift ideas? Check out these suggestions from DNAinfo's holiday guide.
