Small Business Saturday On The Upper West Side: See Small Biz List

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Saturday, Nov. 25, is an important day for independently owned local businesses on the Upper West Side. It’s Small Business Saturday, the kickoff to “shop small” events that emphasize the power of dollars spent in local communities.

Founded by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is sandwiched between the major Black Friday retail shopping holiday that tends to favor national brands and Cyber Monday, an online shopping event that this year takes place on Nov. 27.

The following local businesses are just some of those participating in this year's event, according to American Express’ Small Business Saturday tracker:

• Albee Baby Carriage Retail (715 Amsterdam Ave.)
• Basics On Broadway (2315 Broadway)
• Broadway Farm (2341 Broadway)
• Butterfield Market (1114 Lexington Ave.)
• City Diner (2441 Broadway Ave.)
• Earth Cafe (2580 Broadway)
• Gartner's Hardware (162 West 72nd St.)
• Gotham Wine Liquors (2517 Broadway)
• Irving Farm Coffee Roasters (224 West 79th St.)
• Jacob’s Pickles (509 Amsterdam Ave.)
• Levain Bakery - Upper West Side (351 Amsterdam Ave.)
• Lincoln Center Theatre (50 Lincoln Center Plaza)
• Marinara Pizza (483 Amsterdam Ave.)
• New York Historical Society Museum and Library (170 Central Park West)
• Ralph’s Coffee (888 Madison Ave.)
• Shakespeare And Company (2020 Broadway)

Since it started in 2010, consumers have reported spending an estimated $163 billion at small businesses across all 12 Small Business Saturdays combined.

In New York State, Small businesses represent 98 percent of all businesses and support 40 percent of the private sector workforce, according to figures provided by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.

“As the daughter of a small business owner, I know it takes hard work and perseverance to start and grow a business,” Hochul said. "Since the beginning of my administration, we have made historic investments in New York’s small businesses, which provide jobs, boost local economies, and have a huge impact on communities across the state. This Small Business Saturday and every day, I encourage New Yorkers to shop locally.”

Locally owned businesses recirculate a far greater percentage of revenue locally compared to absentee-owned businesses, according to the American Independent Business Alliance. Independents return about 48 percent of their revenues back into the local economy, compared to 14 percent returned to the local economy by chains.

Small businesses are typically defined by the federal government as those with fewer than 500 employees.

They are responsible for two of every three jobs over the past 25 years. Even a partial collapse of small businesses could weaken the overall U.S. economy, according to the Labor Department.