Local shops in North Tonawanda cash in on Small Business Saturday

NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Small Business Saturday is one of the busiest shopping days of the year for locally-owned stores in Western New York. Shops along Webster Street in North Tonawanda are hoping to cash in on the shopping holiday.

"We're all local. We put our money back into the neighborhoods and back into the local areas. That in general is what small business does," said Suzanne Todaro, who owns Gleam and Glimmer Stained Glass Studio.

Todaro is also the secretary of the Downtown Merchants Association. She said downtown North Tonawanda has seen a lot of progress and business growth.

"In the last couple of years, we have added a number of new retail on the street and a lot of those folks have been waiting a long time for folks to get here," she said. "This area in particular because of the restaurants, the Riviera (Theatre) and the general support of the city."

Maria Andres, who owns the boutique Aster and Lilies, waited 10 years to open a shop on the street.

"We just wanted to make sure we help North Tonawanda flourish," Andres said.

The business just celebrated its one-year anniversary.

"North Tonawanda is really up and coming, especially Webster Street," Andres said. "We are trying to just make sure people understand that shopping local and small is very important. It's great for you to do Christmas shopping in big stores, but just remember these are the stores that are going to support your local community."

There will be another chance to score deals and shop local next weekend in North Tonawanda during the Lumber City Winter Walk and Tree Lighting ceremony on Dec. 7.