Shop downtown stores all weekend
Small Business Saturday is always an important day for small businesses but it’s especially important this year — so it spans the entire weekend.
That’s according to Barbara Watkins, executive director of Main Street Morgantown.
Having “Small Business Saturday” extend into Sunday is intended to allow customers more time to shop and spread out since stores have reduced capacity due to COVID-19, Watkins said.
The participating stores in downtown Morgantown will be open from 10a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
In addition, 16 artisans, selling items such as jewelry, pottery and “all kinds of different crafts from a lot of talented people,” will set up downtown, Watkins said.
The artisans will close two hours earlier than the businesses Saturday and have the same hours Sunday.
Parking downtown, including the parking garages and wharf district, has been free since noon Wednesday and is free until 5 p.m. Monday.
Shopping local and supporting small businesses this year is especially important because the shops, which operate on small margins, have been strained because of the pandemic, Watkins said.
She said downtown Morgantown has many unique shops, such as a specialty toy store and wedding boutique that offer items not available at big box stores.
Small Business Saturday has always been the busiest weekend of the year and something she looks forward to, said Shannon Dowling, owner of River Fair Trade, which sells fair trade gifts, clothing, decor and accessories from around the world.
“This year with the fact that a lot of us have been closed for COVID it definitely could be a game changer,” Dowling said.
Every business is different, but Saturday won’t be a “make or break” moment for River Fair Trade, Dowling said. However, a good weekend would go “a long way” to helping make up for losses this year and making sure the store can operate at the same level it did pre-COVID when things normalize.
Dowling said the downtown community is “fantastic” and business owners support each other and promote each other’s businesses, which is not something she’s experienced in other areas.
“Really and truly the community here in Morgantown is fantastic and super supportive,” she said. “The community at large and business community in itself and I’m always really grateful to be part of that.”
She said every business downtown wants to stay downtown, and to contribute to the area. Owners have chosen to keep their stores there or move there and be part of the community.
“For me, downtown is the heart of Morgantown,” she said. “We are the literal and figurative heart and soul of Morgantown.”
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