Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be “all mall.” Small Business Saturday — the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day — is a shopping day created to show off America’s small businesses. Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday celebrates the importance of supporting small businesses, the jobs they create and the culture they foster in local communities. Here are some ways different cities and neighborhoods in San Diego County are promoting their small businesses:
CARDIFF
Main Street: Cardiff 101 Main Street offers sidewalk sales, local specials, and maker’s pop-up shops from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 26 at Cardiff Town Center, 2033 San Elijo Ave., and surrounding areas. Shops including Emmy Lou Jewelry, Soul Spark Candles, Saunt Eyewear, Monthly Ritual, Bronzed Bums, OTSO Sport USA, and Cardiff 101 will be participating. A limited edition artwork poster by Christina Zeller will be gifted to shoppers who buy at participating businesses. Visit www.cardiff101.co.
CARMEL VALLEY
Shop Small: The folks at One Paseo are calling it Shop Small Saturday, but the spirit is the same, encouraging visitors to the shopping center’s 40 stores and restaurants. Guests can enjoy holiday decor, lights and holiday activities, including the annual tree lighting at 5 p.m. That event will also feature live musical performances, snow cascading from the rooftops, Santa and special guests. Shops will be offering specials, like those at Marrow (20 percent off Lunar Pendants and select chain designs) and Shop Good (20 percent off on purchases of $100 or more). One Paseo is at 3725 Paseo Place. For a full schedule of holiday happenings, visit onepaseo.com/events.
CHULA VISTA
Take it downtown: Enjoy in-store discounts and promotions from a variety of downtown Chula Vista businesses, starting Nov. 26 and running through the end of December. The downtown runs roughly along Third Avenue from H Street to E Street. There’s also the Third Avenue Village Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday.
ENCINITAS
Chamber campaign: The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce is supporting Small Business Saturday with a two-pronged holiday campaign. The chamber will distribute a Digital Coupon Book that will link to discounts and specials from chamber members, promoted through the chamber’s social media pages. The chamber is also launching a “Surfy the Snowman” social media campaign inspired by “Elf on the Shelf,” to highlight chamber businesses. Twice each week from Nov. 26 until Dec. 17, Surfy the Snowman’s holiday adventures will be posted on the chamber’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Each post will highlight a business and announce a $25 gift card giveaway. Clues will be given the day before each post to where Surfy will end up next. Participants must be following the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce page and the participating business, like the post and tag a friend. Participants will also be entered into a grand prize drawing Dec. 21 for a one-night stay at the Alila Marea Beach Resort.
ESCONDIDO
Discounts, special offers and prizes: Discover special treats, sales and discounts downtown while collecting stamps to fill your bingo card. Participating business hours range from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get bonus squares for purchases and participating in activities like a photo booth, art activity and lighting downtown ceremony. When you get a bingo, enter to win an Escondido Experience Package (valued between $200 and $1,000) or keep shopping and collecting stamps. If you fill your bingo card entirely to get a blackout, you will also be entered to win one of the premier Escondido Experience Packages (valued at $500 or more). These themed packages are donated by Escondido brick-and-mortar businesses: perfect for foodies, art lovers, shopping addicts, and show-goers. Early birds can grab breakfast and pick up a bingo card and map at Sunny Side Kitchen, 155 S. Orange St. For a leisurely start, the pickup station in Heritage Garden at East Grand and Juniper will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where you will also find the art activity, photo booth, carolers and bonus squares. At sundown in Maple Street Plaza, enjoy the Grand Avenue street lighting ceremony, with hot chocolate, cider and treats. Bonus square there, too.
FALLBROOK
Artisan Faire: Fallbrook salutes Small Business Saturday with its free annual Artisan Faire, featuring the handicrafts of local artisans. Held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 26 in the downtown area on Main Avenue between Hawthorne and Alvarado streets, the fair also features art objects and live music. The Farmers Market will also be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. nearby, on Main Avenue between Alvarado and Fig streets. Visit fallbrookchamberofcommerce.org.
OCEANSIDE
Take the challenge: Main Street Oceanside, Oceanside Economic Development and the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce kick off Small Business Saturday with several events, starting with the Oceanside Holiday Challenge. Register at mainstreetoceanside.com/oceansideholidaychallenge and download the Goose Chase scavenger hunt mobile app. Then visit Oceanside businesses, destinations and events from Nov. 26 to Dec. 11 for a chance to win local prizes. No purchase necessary to participate. The game app guides you to local businesses, destinations and events to snap selfies or shoot videos. Each task completed earns one or more points toward winning local prizes. Each point earned in the game equals one giveaway entry. Also enjoy the Sip N Shop Downtown Oceanside from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 26. Taste local beers, wines and craft beverages while you shop and enjoy live holiday music. Tickets are at shoplocaloceanside.com. And there will be Merry Makers Fairs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 27 at three downtown sites, featuring crafts by MiraCosta College students and others: Artist Alley (between Pier View Way and Mission Avenue, west of North Freeman Street), at downtown Lot 35 at Pier View Way and North Tremont Street, and at the Civic Center fountain.
SAN DIEGO
Ocean Beach: The Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association encourages everyone to join the annual Small Business Saturday Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 26 by shopping locally. Shoppers who show the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association Welcome Booth $50 or more in receipts from purchases made that day at O.B. businesses will have the chance to win O.B. gift cards. The Welcome Booth will be under a balloon arch on the 4900 block of Newport Avenue in front of the Ocean Beach Antique Mall. The OBMA also encourages visitors to stop by the booth to learn more about what OBMA has to offer. At the booth, visitors can enter a drawing to win a holiday gift basket, which will hold the O.B.-branded puzzle, playing cards, iconic O.B. parrot hat, farmers market tote bag, this year’s signature ornament and more. Visit oceanbeachsandiego.com.
Logan Heights: The Logan Heights Community Development Corporation hosts a three-part event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. celebrating Small Business Saturday. It’s happening along Imperial Avenue between 19th and 31st streets and includes a food tasting, business passport program and an art walk. Guests can buy tickets for the Taste of Imperial Avenue at bit.ly/3TM2a59. Those taking part in the Taste by buying a ticket or by participating in the Passport Program (visiting six local small businesses) will have access to the family-friendly Small Business Saturday Community Celebration in the Gilliam Family Community Space (2835 Imperial Ave.) with outdoor lawn games, a live DJ, free beer and special guest participation from the San Diego Loyals SC and San Diego Sockers. The last day to buy tickets online is Nov. 25. Tickets on event day are available at the Gilliam Community Space while supplies last.
Adams Avenue Spirit Stroll: The seventh annual Adams Avenue Spirit Stroll takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 26 as part of the nationwide celebration of Small Business Saturday. Strollers can sip holiday-themed cocktail tastes and eat treats inside 21 independently owned retail shops along Adams Avenue, from University Heights through Normal Heights and into Kensington. This festive small-business celebration is limited to adults 21 and older.
Little Italy: Little Italy will be hosting Small Business Season starting Nov. 26 and continuing through the end of December. Deals and steals will be available at the many boutiques, home furnishing businesses, galleries and more on and around India Street, including Stroll, Valmare, Atacama Surf Shop, The Lion’s Mane and more. Online shopping will be available at many businesses, and some will be offering curb-side pickup. Little Italy is mainly on Kettner Boulevard, India Street and Columbia Street.
North Park: Businesses in the North Park Business District will be offering sales and specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 26, as well as live music, giveaways, social media raffles, goodie bags and more. The kickoff takes place at 10:30 a.m. at Pretzels & Pints, 3812 Ray St. with guest speakers Assemblymember Chris Ward, representatives from Councilmember Stephen Whitburn’s office, and North Park Main Street Executive Director Mark West. Call (619) 294-2501.
Gaslamp: Gaslamp Quarter merchants are ready for you to shop small and support small businesses on Small Business Saturday. The Gaslamp is home to a multitude of locally owned and operated boutiques, restaurants and more. Don’t forget to share your favorite Small Business Saturday moments on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #shopsmall.
