Small Business Saturday Returns to Long Island Downtowns

In downtown Huntington, in front of the 65-Foot Christmas Tree in the center of Wall Street’s Huntington Holiday Spectacular, Vita Scaturro, Chairwoman Huntington Township Chamber of Commerce, explained the importance of shopping local. “We know it’s easy to stay at home and click away to fill your cart, but when you shop local you can help a family put a child through collage or help pay for their parents’ health care. Our community is stronger when we shop local. For every one hundred dollars you spend, sixty-eight dollars stays here.”

Frank Camarano, president of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, stated, “Shopping local is important to the community. Not only does the money stay here, there is the camaraderie of meeting people. After COVID what we need most is working together, being together.”

Valerie Anderson-Campbell and Elizabeth Wellington from the LI African American Chamber of Commerce expressed the importance of shopping local. Ms. Wellington stated, “Our local businesses depend on us. We are all in this together and if we unite to help our business owners, who are the fabric of our everyday lives, we will be making such a big difference, especially during this time.”

“We need to keep our homegrown dollars on Long Island,” Karen Montalbano of the Baldwin Civic Association stated. “In turn, we will be helping each other.”

Local officials discussed the unique benefits of shopping local. “Support your local businesses that support our community, from the Boy Scouts to golf outings,” New York State Assemblyman Keith Brown explained. Edmund Smyth, Town of Huntington Supervisor-elect, stated, “Resist the urge to click. Shop in our local villages and downtowns. Keep your dollars local. The small businesses truly appreciate it.”

In downtown Massapequa Park, in front of Friends For Life Homecare, the message of shopping local was just as strong as in Huntington. Keith Wilson, president of the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce, stated, “I heard just today that 67 cents of every dollar spent in a small business goes back into the community. Shopping local is an investment in our communities.”

Local chambers all stressed the importance of shopping local. Luis Vazquez, president of the LI Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, stated, “It is very important to shop local. Don’t click so much, our businesses need you.” Belinda Watkins, president of the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, agreed, “Giving back to local businesses is very important.” Rikki Massand, from the Syosset-Woodbury Chamber of Commerce noted, “We find small businesses in our neighborhoods. That means they are our neighbors. We are supporting our neighbors by shopping local.” Lisa DelliPizzi, president of the Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce, explained ninety percent of business on Long Island are small businesses. Shopping local gives back to those business owners that give to the community, local jobs are created and money stays in the community. Lois Howes from the Freeport Chamber of Commerce and Christine Mooney from the East Meadow Chamber of Commerce also lent their voices for the need to shop local.

Nassau County Legislator James Kennedy and Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino were on hand to support local businesses. “We have to make sure we keep coming out to support our local businesses. They are the backbone of our communities,” Legislator Kennedy noted. “I’m asking the people of Long Island,” Supervisor Saladino stated, “to get out and shop locally during the holiday season. When you shop local, you make a big difference in keeping our communities thriving.”

In conclusion, Eric Alexander, Director of Vision Long Island and the Long Island Main Street Alliance, stated, “Post pandemic is an important time to come together to support our downtowns. This is done by shopping local, not only during the holiday season, but all year round. We give a gift to our family members, to our friends, and with what small businesses have been through, we have to give a gift to our downtowns by giving them the gift of our dollars, our patronage. That’s so important.”