Holiday shoppers this week have no shortage of options, with Small Business Saturday being observed Nov. 26.
Sandwiched between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday reminds shoppers to patronize local retailers, craftspeople and restaurants as they prepare for the holidays.
A small-business economic impact study conducted for American Express reported of every dollar spent at a small business, 68 cents stay in the local economy. According to the Indiana Small Business Development Center, small businesses make up more than 99% of all businesses in Indiana and employ 1.2 million Hoosiers.
Downtown South Bend, Inc. encourages the community to celebrate and support the variety of small, locally-owned businesses in downtown South Bend at this year’s Small Business Saturday.
Start your shopping experiences at the DTSB Small Business Saturday Welcome Booth from 10:00 a.m. – noon at the Howard Park Event Center to get your own Shop Small bag (for first 30 shoppers) and a list of all the deals taking place downtown for the day.
The Welcome Booth will feature coupons, giveaways, coffee, Jack’s Donuts, and a Shop Small photo booth. Also be sure to check out the unique local vendors at the Howard Holiday Market taking place.
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Howard Park Event Center, brought to you by South Bend Venue Parks & Arts.
DTSB will also be kicking off their annual Holiday Tree & Wreath Sales on the Gridiron November 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with proceeds benefitting Relay for Life of St. Joseph County. The fresh-cut trees and wreaths are locally sourced by JK Tree Farm.
Free parking will be available all day on the street, surface lots, and in the parking garages.
Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country and is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. If you spend $100 at a local business, roughly $68 stays in your local economy. If you spend the same amount on a large business, only $43 stays in the local economy.
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY PROMOTIONS IN DOWNTOWN SOUTH BEND
Food & Drink Promotions
Barnaby’s (713 E Jefferson Blvd)
Small business Saturday Special – $23.95 large two-topping pizza, breadsticks, and pitcher of pop.
Ironhand Wine Bar (1025 Northside Blvd)
November 25-November 27: Burgundy Friday/Small Business Saturday. Enjoy 50% off bottles of 2018 MI Cabernet Franc and 50% off Drink Local long sleeve shirts. They will also have gift certificates, Ironhand scented candles, and more to cover all of your holiday shopping needs. November 25 & November 26: Estate Wine Release Party! Tis the season to try new Ironhand estate wines – their new 2021 Estate Whiskey Barrel Cabernet Franc and 2021 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy complimentary tastes of these two new unique wines from their vineyard in South Bend. Reservations are encouraged for dining. Discount is valid on bottles enjoyed at the wine bar and to-go.
Gift Cards & Gift Certificates
Fatbird (103 W Colfax Ave)
Buy a $40 gift card & get a $10 gift card for free. Free gift cards not redeemable on the day of purchase.
Fiddler’s Hearth (127 N Main St)
Small Business Saturday through Christmas Eve, Fiddler’s is offering a deal – buy $100 in gift cards and get a $25 gift card for free!
Café Navarre (101 N Michigan St)
Gift Card Special November 25-27: With the purchase of a $100 gift card, guests will receive $35 in gift vouchers. Gift cards never expire, and vouchers are valid until 04/30. They will be open for gift card sales starting at 11:00 a.m. on Small Business Saturday. Guests can purchase gift cards at Cafe Navarre (valid for all NHG locations-first time ever!) or through their website at Cafenavarre.com. They will have complimentary hot cider and fresh baked cookies for any guests who would like to purchase a gift card.
Chicory Café (105 E Jefferson Blvd)
Gift card promotion November 25-26: $70 for $100 in gift cards.
L Street Kitchen (131 S Lafayette Blvd)
Gift card promotion November 26 -27. Buy four $10 gift cards, get one for free.
PEGGS (127 S Michigan St)
Gift Card Special: for every $20 you buy, you will get $5 free. Holiday Gift Baskets will also be on sale and those are a $60 value sold for $45. For anyone that comes in on Small Business Saturday and purchases either a gift basket or gift certificate on special, their names will be entered into a drawing for a prize!
St. Joe Coffee Co. (305 S Michigan St.
50% off specialty latte Gingersnap White Mocha (Gingerbread syrup with white mocha sauce and topped with nutmeg) and Chocolate Caramel Kiss (Caramel syrup and chocolate sauce topped with caramel drizzle.)
The Garage Arcade Bar (503 E Colfax Ave)
$25 gift cards to match each purchase of $100 in house; they will also have a DJ.
Retail Promotions & Activities
Ali on the Boulevard (722 E Jefferson Blvd)
20% off everything, plus community goodie bag filled with gift cards to local restaurants and attractions when you spend $75 or more (while supplies last.)
Inspire Me (520 E Colfax Ave)
20% off throughout the store (a few exceptions will apply.)
River Valley Farmers’ Market (401 E Colfax Ave)
10% off total purchases at the market.
South Bend Brew Werks (321 S Main St Suite 105B)
Lifetime Mug Club Memberships for $200, plus hat and pint glass combo for $30.
South Bend Civic Theatre (403 N Main St)
$10 Rudolph ticket for kids 10 and under with the purchase of an adult ticket November 24-29.
South Bend Cubs (501 W South St)
Ticket Package Sale November 25-26. 100 ticket packages will be available for purchase at
SouthBendCubs.com beginning at midnight on November 25. The package includes 10 undated ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for any 2023 regular season game. Vouchers can be redeemed after single-game tickets go on sale in March. Also included in the deal is a voucher good for any South Bend Cubs adjustable hat, four single game parking passes, two Toyota Fun Zone wristbands, four tokens to the 1st Source Bank Performance Center batting cages, and $20 in Cubbie Cash that can be used at the
Box Office, any Four Winds Field concession stands, parking lot, and the Cubs Den Team Store.
The History Museum (808 W Washington St)
The History Museum Boutique will offer 20% all purchases.
The Pigeon & The Hen Pottery ( 217 S Michigan St)
Come in and paint on Small Business Saturday and get your loyalty card fully punched for an additional 15% of your next in-store painting experience. Handmade Pottery made by The Pigeon & The Hen is 15% off. Their custom South Bend T-Shirts are $15 each, with six different styles to choose from. All canvas paintings to go are 50% off. South Bend Sweatshirts are $29. Coffee and Hot Chocolate Bar will be available to keep your energy going! Reservations highly recommended.
Tree & Wreath Sales on the Gridiron
A variety of local fresh-cut trees and wreaths from JK Tree Farm will be for sale from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with proceeds benefiting Relay for Life of St. Joseph County.
Unique Boutique (122 S Michigan St Suite 110)
50% entire store Friday, Saturday and Sunday
