Since American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010, Black Friday has typically been associated with hitting the malls and big-box retailers for after-Thanksgiving deals, while that Saturday is the day to support local businesses.
But for Alec Munson, owner of B-Sides Vintage in Millvale since 2020, Black Friday had been the busier day for his vintage clothing shop. Or, it was until the Millvale Community Development Corp. began promoting the borough’s businesses and staging its own Small Business Saturday event, Millvale Shopopoly.
Now, Munson said the two days are about equal for him.
“Millvale’s on its way,” he said. “They’re always doing something down here. It’s cool.”
B-Sides Vintage will be among more than 30 businesses offering complimentary treats and discounts for the third annual event, scheduled to run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, said Dee Schlotter, the small-business lead for the Millvale Community Development Corp.
The game part of Shopopoly will have participants collecting stamps from participating businesses — and getting extra stamps when they buy things — which they can use to get raffle tickets for gift baskets featuring products and gift cards from Millvale businesses.
“We wanted to do something fun for the consumers, and they seem to love it,” Schlotter said.
New this year will be a holiday gift market featuring about 10 makers and bakers in Grant Avenue Pocket Park, across from Attic Records on Grant Avenue.
Schlotter said she quickly put together the first Millvale Shopopoly after being told just two months ahead that no one was organizing anything for Small Business Saturday in the borough.
“We had every business doing a little sample. More than 350 came that first year,” she said. “The businesses said it was one of their best business days they had so we decided to keep it going.”
Jeff Carr has kept his grandparent’s business, Yetter’s Candies, going since taking it over from his parents, Edward and Arlene Carr, in 2016. His maternal grandparents, Gertrude and Elmer Yetter, founded it in 1950.
He is planning to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Yetter’s Candies in January.
While still working on his offerings for Small Business Saturday, Carr said he will be selling “real” hot chocolate for 75 cents, the priced tied to the anniversary.
“Since they started hosting the event, the day has been huge,” Carr said. “For a while, it was just another day.”
While Carr said business in Millvale has been “up and down,” he linked its business growth to Lawrenceville. The development of that city neighborhood priced out some people, who in turn came to Millvale and filled its empty storefronts.
Munson, a former massage therapist, lived in Lawrenceville until his rent doubled. He now lives in Millvale not far from his storefront.
“It’s such a tight community,” he said. “The townspeople support the businesses a lot.”
Because of places like Grist House Brewery, Mr. Smalls and Attic Records, Millvale has become a destination, Munson said.
Millvale has an “eclectic set of stores” for people to discover, Schlotter said.
“Everyone that comes for Small Business Saturday say they never knew Millvale had this much to offer, and they love it,” she said.
In addition to the businesses, there are a few events that bring people to Millvale. Millvale Days and the Millvale Music Festival are among them, but for John Tarallo, owner of Steel City Salt Co., Small Business Saturday is the busiest.
“It’s huge in Millvale,” he said. “People love shopping and supporting local. People have really embraced local businesses, which is nice.”
Tarallo and his wife, Candy, opened a storefront for their salt and spice business in 2018 in Millvale after getting started as an outdoor vendor in the Strip District.
“Our Millvale location on weekends is busier for us than the Strip District, which I never thought would happen,” Tarallo said. “People know about it, and they come in.”
