Paul Bass Photo
“We are going to have fun shopping. All right?”
With that call, Mayor Toni Harp launched civic New Haven’s campaign to convince people to do their holiday shopping this year at local stores.
That keeps local people employed and keeps money in the local economy, Harp said at a City Hall kick-off Wednesday afternoon for the annual shop-local campaign.
Harp: Keep dollars local.
It all starts the Saturday after next, Nov. 26 —the day after the post-Thanksgiving “Black Friday.” Hundreds of downtown retailers are taking part in “Small Business Saturday” that day. Similar events are taking place in communities nationwide under a #ShopSmall banner.
New Haven’s Town Green Special Services has paid to make 200 parking meters free that day. Yale’s offering free parking at its lots 255 Crown, 151 York, and 56 Broadway if you spend $25 at one of its tenant shops. A holiday market will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fletcher Cameron Design at 91 Orange Street featuring juices, shirts, racing shells, art, furniture, and pork products made by local businesses.
Wednesday’s announcement was made in conjunction with the “Made in New Haven” campaign, which has 70 participating businesses so far. (Read more about that here.)
“These next six weeks,” Harp said, can make all “the difference for local small businesses.”
“Made in New Haven” artist Shaunda Holloway and retailer Catherine Cazes-Wiley, wearing some of her designs, at Wednesday’s kick-off.