SHAMOKIN - The owner of The Game Shack is pleased that Small Business Saturday brought attention to the downtown area.
"I've always lived in a small town and everybody says to shop locally, but nobody ever does anything," Kyle Lahr said behind the counter of his store at 119 E. Independence St. "This is the first I've seen where anyone is doing anything about it."
Last year, sales on Small Business Saturday nationwide generated around $5.5 billion in revenue. The observance was conceived by American Express four years ago.
The Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce reported 20 city businesses joined the effort this year in recognition of the national effort to bring smaller businesses into the holiday shopping mix on the heels of Black Friday.
By 12:30 p.m., Lahr said business was slow with only five customers, but he suspects the majority of people were recovering from Black Friday shopping at larger retail stores, which he calls "terrible, but terribly convenient."
He's willing to participate in "anything to get the word out" about downtown businesses, he said.
Lahr buys, sells and trades new, used and especially retro video games and gaming systems. He has a wide selection of games, controllers and accessories for the Nintendo Entertainment System, SuperNintendo, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and 3DS, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstations 1, 2 and 3, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Atari as well as the systems themselves.
Everything in the store Saturday was 10 percent off, and customers were able to buy three retro games and get one free. All December, customers get an extra 10 percent for trade-in credit.
Over at The WhatNot Shoppe Café at 139 E. Independence St., owner Cindy Carpenter was selling all-you-can-eat Belgian waffles for $6, a Buy One Get One (BOGO) for wafflewiches (waffle sandwiches) for $3 and any small latte or cappuccino for $2.
"It's been a nice day, but it could be better. As long as people are coming in our door happy," Carpenter said, noting more than 60 customers came through the doors between 7:30 a.m. and noon.
She said Small Business Saturday was a "grand idea" that needs more awareness and creativity to drive people into the downtown area.
WhatNot Shoppe customer Carole Hedges, of Coal Township, who was sitting in the store shortly at 12:30 p.m., said the event and area is new to her, but she planned to walk around the downtown to shop.
"It's my town. I'll do anything that brings business," she said.
At Jones Ace Hardware at 115 E. Independence St., employees Joe Leaveck and Sam Fetterman said they sold plenty of appliances, heaters, salt and coal Friday and Saturday.
Leaveck said having a day to focus on small businesses drives people into town and Fetterman said it allows for those who had to work Friday to shop locally Saturday.
In a news releaseThursday, Whitney Fetterman, chamber director, said Small Business Saturday was created with the goal of shopping small.
"Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and typically give back to their communities. We are honored to be able to support and promote our small businesses," she said.
Participants, which offered specials or other promotions as part of the event, also included Harry's Grill, Central Penn Physical Therapy, Bader's Furniture, AREA Services, First National Bank, H&R Block, Maurer's Dairy, Rob's Good Time Grill, M&T Bank, The Fun Shop, Beverly's Flowers, Ye Olde Coin Shoppe, The News-Item, Susquehanna Bank, Original Italian Pizza, Shuey Jeweler's, The Center for Movement Arts and Herb's Mobile Repair Services LLC.