Shop Local In Bed-Stuy: Your Small Business Saturday Guide

BED-STUY, NY — Saturday marks an important day for independently owned businesses in Bed-Stuy: Small Business Saturday, the first in a series of “shop small” events highlighting the impact of spending locally.

For many small shops, the weekend can make a significant difference in fourth-quarter sales, helping them stay competitive against big-box and online retailers.

Small Business Saturday sits between the major Black Friday shopping rush, which often benefits national retailers, and Cyber Monday, the online shopping event taking place this year on Nov. 29.

The National Retail Federation estimates that a record 186.9 million people plan to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, which is a two percent increase, or more than three million additional shoppers, compared with 2024’s previous record.

In Bed-Stuy, some retailers are rolling out discounts, while others are just hoping residents choose to support their neighborhood shops.

Searching for "Bed-Stuy" on the official Small Business Saturday map shows dozens of participating shops in the neighborhood. A few examples include:

• Fan Fan Doughnuts (448 Lafayette Ave)
• King David Tacos (532 Monroe St)
• Mannys Wine Shop (562 Halsey St)
• The Mixtape Shop Cafe (1129 Bedford Ave)
• Clinton Flower Shop (116 Hart St)
• Brooklyn Cap Clothing (1363 Fulton St)

And there are plenty more. You can find additional participating shops by searching a business name, ZIP code, or neighborhood on the event’s official map website.

Since the first Small Business Saturday in 2010, consumers have spent an estimated $163 billion, according to American Express, the event’s longtime sponsor.

Most estimates suggest that two-thirds of every dollar spent locally stays in the community, thanks to what’s known as the “local multiplier effect.” The American Independent Business Alliance notes that, on average, 48 percent of every purchase at a local independent business is recirculated locally, compared with less than 14 percent of spending at chain stores.

Local businesses also rely heavily on year-end sales to meet their revenue goals—and shoppers will find no shortage of holiday cheer, special events, and festive experiences to make supporting them fun.