SARASOTA, Fla. — As shoppers wrap up their search for Black Friday deals, some businesses are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused significant damage across the Tampa Bay area.
With many stores still closed or in recovery mode, business owners in places like St. Armand's Circle are looking to Small Business Saturday as a much-needed opportunity to rebuild and regain momentum during the holiday season.
The challenges have been considerable for businesses that have managed to open their doors after the back-to-back storms.
"It's a miracle… it took us six weeks to put ourselves back together again," said Lorry Eible, owner of Foxy Lady Boutiques in Sarasota.
Despite the challenges, Eible has remained hopeful that the upcoming Small Business Saturday will help increase foot traffic and sales during this critical time.
But, the struggles are far from over. Another local business owner shared the toll the storms have taken.
"In November, we lost 35% of our gross sales compared to last year. So, we are hoping that in December people will know and understand that St. Armand's Circle is still here, vibrating and loving the tourists and customers," said Rosalie Gulliem, owner of Le Macaron French Pastries.
Although business owners continue to feel the strain of a tanked bottom line, many remain resilient and optimistic. As the community prepares for Small Business Saturday, they hope shoppers will take the time to support local businesses not just on that day but throughout the entire holiday season.
"We do want to encourage everyone. There are so many stores that are opening little by little, and we're hoping St. Armand's comes back," said Jennifer Allen co-owner of Fugate's By The Sea.
"We believe in St. Armand's, so we are committed," said Scott Allen co-owner of Fugate's By The Sea.
Their dedication to the area is clear as they like many other business owners hope that the holiday season will bring a boost to a district still recovering from the storms.
For local residents like Maya Coe, the importance of Small Business Saturday goes beyond just the holiday shopping experience, especially with the allure and convenience of online shopping with e-retailers, national big-box and department stores.
"Small Business Saturday is so integral to the Circle. So many people come from out of town here, snowbirds, and we all know what it used to feel like. They're trying to really build it back up. It's going to take time though, but support from locals and tourists is essential to get the Circle back," Coe explained.
Some Sarasota residents have already started to show their support to the local businesses and some said they have noticed a growing sense of optimism around the Circle with the arrival of the holiday shopping season.
"You can see the momentum really moving in the last few weeks since I've been here. More shops have opened, and they're having all the sales. We try to support. We try to come down here and shop because we want to see the Circle come back and be the jewel of Sarasota that it's always been," said Terri Moore.
For those who are still uncertain about visiting, business owners reassured the public that there's plenty to enjoy and see in St. Armand's despite the recent challenges they have experienced.
"There's lots to do, lots of restaurants. It's not a ghost town," said Eible, who encouraged shoppers to return and rediscover what St. Armand's has to offer.
"St. Armands is very special, as it always has been. We're committed to bringing it back even stronger. So we're fired up—come see us!" said Scott Allen, echoing the same sentiment.
Since its inception by American Express 15 years ago, Small Business Saturday has helped drive more than $200 billion in local sales across the United States, according to the company's website. The initiative to shop locally has even begun catching on internationally as communities in different parts of the world key into the importance of intentionally supporting local small businesses.
For the small businesses throughout the Tampa Bay area recovering from the damage of the storms, the message is clear: Shopping local doesn't just support a store, it helps bring life back into a community.
