Renewed push to shop small, shop local during pandemic-impacted holiday season

PITTSBURGH — Downtown Pittsburgh may be looking festive for the holidays. But for many, it feels anything but merry. Small businesses have been hit especially hard, and there’s a renewed push to shop local and shop small this holiday season.

“We definitely need support. It’s been a rough year for all of us,” Heather Waters said.

Waters owns a hot cocoa truck and has been trying to make up for lost time and money. In March, she was forced to close up her mobile shop.

“We closed for the winter last year and we never really got to reopen,” she said.

“I grew up here. I’ve been here since I was 2, so it means a lot,” Beth Ann Vernon said.

Hobby Express, where Vernon works, has been in her family for 27 years. She was forced to close up for two months in the spring.

“It was weird not seeing everybody,” she said.

Both owners thanked those who chose to shop small and shop local during this unique holiday season. The Saturday after Thanksgiving has become known as Small Business Saturday, featuring small shops, boutiques and businesses in your community.

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Cox Media Group