Neighborhood shopping districts are a source of pride for communities throughout Pennsylvania. Keep your holiday shopping local this Small Business Saturday.
Small Business Saturday began as a complement to Black Friday, and is meant to inspire people to shop for holiday gifts locally, at brick-and-mortar stores in their communities.
Throughout Pennsylvania, neighborhood shopping districtsโwhether in big cities or small townsโare a tremendous source of pride. Each area features a diverse array of local businesses with deep roots in the communities they serve.ย
Weโve put together a list of local shopping districts and stores all across the commonwealth that have all the gifts youโre seeking, on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30 this year) and every day.ย
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods, and many of these neighborhoods have their own shopping districts and long histories of community businesses.ย
There are a multitude of neighborhoods within the city where you can support small businesses, but we especially like Garfield and the Strip District.ย
Garfield has several vintage stores, thrift stores, and cool gift shops. One, Workshop PGH, also holds community maker classes in case you want to pick up a gift at the store (fun stickers, lush plants) and then purchase a gift certificate to go towards a loved one taking a workshop.
Closer to downtown Pittsburgh, the Strip District is well-known for its Saturday markets and large number of specialty grocery stores. Some of these stores are great places for gift buying. The Pennsylvania Macaroni Company, for example, sells imported pantry ingredients for the Italian food lover in your life. And PA Libations only sells liquor made in Pennsylvania. Pick up that Western Pa. standby, rye whiskey, and gift it along with some Natrona ginger beer for a perfectly Pennsylvania present.
Erie
Like a number of cities across Pennsylvania, the northwestern city of Erie has a downtown district thatโs largely made up of small businesses providing local goods and services to the community.ย
In Erie, you can visit an art gallery like DโHopkins Denniston Gallery of Fine Art or City Gallery, the clothing shop open since 1850, Isaac Baker Menswear, and the unique action figure and toy store Actiontoyman.
And on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30), even more local Erie sellers will take over the downtown area. Miracle on State Street will feature Erie vendors at a handful of different locations throughout downtown, including The Boston Store, Erie Art Museum, Ascend Climbing Gym, 1020 Collective, Flagship City District Boutiques, the Bonnell Building, and the Perry Square Holiday Village Sheds.
Gettysburg
Gettysburg is not merely the perfect place to buy a gift for your friend or family member that is obsessed with the Civil Warโit is also home to dozens of unique small businesses.ย
For those interested in Civil War history, you might want to swing by the Union Drummer Boy or military bookstore For the Historian. Antique lovers can crawl the Antique Center of Gettysburg, which has more than 100 showcases to view. Also check out Nerd Herd for lovers of board games, Play Like a Girl for retro toys, and Gettysburg Miniature Soldiers to browse a store entirely devoted to miniature soldiers, or Carverโs Toy Trains to browse a store entirely devoted to toy trains.
Harrisburg
On any given Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, you can visit the Broad Street Market in Harrisburg not only for your groceries, but also for quality gifts like specialty coffee beans from Elementary Coffee Co., natural skincare products from NลซBorn Skin, and even gourmet dog treats at Doggie Delights. A fire in July 2023 destroyed the marketโs brick building, but some of the displaced merchants resumed business in a temporary tent structure which opened in May of this year.
On Small Business Saturday this year, and not far from the Broad Street Market, Harrisburg hosts the Odd Ones Holiday Bizarre at The Millworks. This alternative arts and crafts fair features vendors and artists from the wider Central Pa. community, and youโll be able to pick up goods like woodcrafts, jewelry, ceramics, soap, handmade cards and art prints, and much more!ย
Philadelphia
The biggest city in the state of course has some of the best small business shopping. Philly is so chock-full of cool and unique independent shops that it would be impossible to cover each and every neighborhood that deserves a shopping trip. But weโll try our best by recommending you at least stop to shop in the cityโs northwestern neighborhoods.ย
Along Germantown Avenue, youโll have dozens of local businesses to choose from, like Germantownโs Black-owned Uncle Bobbieโs Coffee & Books, where you can sip on a cup of joe while browsing books, games, and other items. You could also buy plants as gifts at Pomelo, including a flower subscription!ย
In neighboring Mt. Airy, local businesses are hosting a โshopping crawlโ on Small Business Saturday. Pick up a passport, visit shops like ARTrageous Brush & Flow and Ruby Mountain Goods boutique, and if you get your passport stamped at eight or more businesses, youโll earn a Mt. Airy-themed ornament.
Another option for a day of shopping is Manayunk. Neighborhood businesses have planned discounts and special events for Small Business Saturday this year. For instance, dtXfy Studio will feature 10% wellness gifts and Orbit Gallery will have an artist exhibiting a collection of Christmas ornaments. Anyone shopping for music lovers would be wise to visit the highly regarded record store Main Street Music, one of the longest-standing businesses along Manayunkโs Main Street.
But donโt forget about the Philly suburbs as youโre making your holiday shopping plans. West Chester, for example, isnโt just celebrating Small Business Saturdayโthe borough has planned a Small Business Weekend, between Friday, Nov. 29 and Sunday, Dec. 1, to support the more than 50 local retail stores that call the area home. Check out Bryn Mawr Running Company for the runners you know and Taylorโs Music Store & Studios for the musicians in your life.
Bethlehem
Bethlehemโs Historic Moravian Shopping District is not only a National Historic Landmark District, but itโs also the home of the oldest bookstore in the country and the oldest continuously operating bookshop in the world: Moravian Book Shop. Sure, you could buy the new Pete the Cat book for your niece at Barnes and Noble, but isnโt there something special about supporting a shop that started in 1745, when George Washington was 13 years old? Also in the historic shopping district is the Celtic shop Donegal Square as well as a wine store from nearby Franklin Hill Vineyards.
You can also pop by Bethlehemโs SouthSide Arts District for a different shopping vibe. Take a look inside Martinโs Furniture, Wadsworth & Co. Antiques, and Cutterโs Bike Shop, as well as a number of specialty clothing boutiques and art galleries.
Honesdale
Big chain stores and Honesdale just donโt mix. Within the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pa., the charming town of Honesdale has a lively downtown area thatโs teeming with fantastic small businesses to patronize. This sort of community-rich shopping experience canโt be found just anywhere.ย
Visit Mount Pleasant Herbary for soaps, teas and salves; Gather for clothes and home dรฉcor for the whole family; Ghiggeriโs Fine Olive Oils & Balsamics for quality oil and vinegar; Jennings Jewelers for classic jewelry; A Pickerโs Find for antiques; and Dyberry Mercantile for all sorts of gifts, including sweet treats, home decorations, vintage goods, books, art, stationary, and even more.ย
Lancaster
Whether you are looking for food, or fancy, festive boutiques,ย Lancaster is a shopperโs paradise.ย
Swing by Lancaster Central Market, the countryโs oldest farmersโ market, where more than 65 local vendors peddle regional food specialties, crafts, and other souvenirs.
Nestled in the heart of downtown Lancaster is BUiLDiNG CHARACTER, a collection of more than 70 shops at home in a large historic warehouse. At any time youโll find architectural salvage, recycled name-brand clothing and accessories, furniture, locally made jewelry, gifts and cards, antiques and collectibles, and original works.
New Hope
New Hope has its own shopping district that attracts both locals and visitors, but itโs also minutes from Peddlerโs Village, a shopping destination in and of itself! Peddlerโs Village, with its quaint brick paths, is home to more than 65 specialty stores selling all sorts of items and gifts: jewelry, fashionable clothing, cooking tools, clocks, toys, new age items, art, wine, pajamas, books, magic-themed giftsโฆand more!ย
In New Hope proper, the downtown area is home to unique stores and boutiques for the shopper looking for a more classic downtown shopping experience, whether thatโs seeking designer clothes at Savioni Designer Boutique or buying homemade gifts at UpMade.
