The U.S. Small Business Administration states, “Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, we know that small businesses need our support now more than ever as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Please join SBA and organizations across the country in supporting your local small businesses by shopping at a small business.

“Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by SBA since 2011, Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season.”

In honor of Small Business Saturday, Niagara Frontier Publications presents its annual spotlight on local merchants.

Sanborn Old General Store

5856 Buffalo St.

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Holiday shopping, while always available online, transcends to a much more enjoyable setting beginning Thanksgiving weekend and continuing beyond, via the shop local experience.

Shop local means unique gifts, personal touches, great prices, enjoyable visits, a community feel. It’s traditionally popular with many – evidenced by the growing list of shop local experiences popping up throughout Buffalo-Niagara. It’s also good for businesses.

Shop local opens with Black Friday sales, and continues on Small Business Saturday and throughout the weekend with some unique gift-buying opportunities.

One to check out is found right in our neck of the woods: It’s the Sanborn Old General Store – a 23-years young business operated by Laurie Corra and her team. They have been fixtures in the community from the beginning.

Sanborn Old General Store is located along the business strip.

“We are a co-op of antique dealers selling collectibles, furniture, primitives, glassware, candles” and more,” a Facebook post noted.

It will celebrate Thanksgiving weekend with an open house.

“We incorporate that with ‘Shop Local.’ It’s very important to us,” Corra said. “It’s going to be Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24-26. We do 10% off everything in the store. We have a couple of nice door prizes – cute country creations. And we’ll be offering cider and homemade cookies” for visitors.

“We appreciate (our customers) shopping with us; we’re trying to make this as nice as we can for them.”

Corra said buyers could expect a full house of those one-of-a-kind holiday goodies on their visit.

“We’ll have 23 vendors; they’re from all over Niagara County and the North Tonawanda areas,” Corra said. “Everybody’s (stocked up); it’s packed to the gills. (There’s) holiday Christmas things, unique items.”

Unique, as in “country crafts, wreaths, vintage and retro Christmas items; (tons) of shiny, bright ornaments and much more,” Corra said. “We’re ready; we’re packed for it.”

“It’s all about Christmas at this point, so get into the Sanborn Old General Store early to pick up some unique Christmas items!”

Sanborn Old General Store is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“We have small gifts, we have furniture, and there’s country candles. We have a lot of unique gifts!” Corra said.

For more information, visit the Sanborn Old General Store on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sanbornoldgeneralstore/ or call 716-998-7882.

Better yet, stop by for a visit.

Sanborn Old General Store is packed with goodies for the holidays, with antiques, collectibles, unique gifts and much more. (Submitted photos)

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SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY 2023

More About Small Business Saturday

In the 2023 American Express Shop Small Impact Study:

•The majority of small business owners (88%) said small businesses need the support of customers in their community given the current economic environment.

•More than half (55%) of small business owners anticipate Small Business Saturday will make a significant contribution to their overall holiday sales this year.

•Consumers are ready to rally behind their local neighborhood businesses and be a part of the “Shop Small” movement. In fact, 78% of those surveyed agree small businesses are essential to their community.

So, #shopsmall this year.

To learn more, visit https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/benefits/shop-small/.

>> Click here for a list of participating merchants

See also >> Small Business Saturday 2023: 'Support Local Everything'