FARMINGTON – Special guest waiters and booksellers, along with discounts are among the highlights downtown on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28.
At the Greenwood Dining Room from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, a general, president, chief and senator will be waiting tables for a very good cause.
Attorney General Janet Mills, University of Maine at Farmington President Kate Foster, Police Chief Jack Peck and Senator Tom Saviello will be the guest waiters who will be serving breakfast with all tips and 20 percent of the proceeds going in support of Operation Santa Claus.
Operation Santa Claus is an annual program of Western Maine Community Action which provides Christmas gifts to more than 1,200 children and seniors who are in need of a little extra cheer. The program is supported through donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals. The Greenwood Dining Room is located at 168 Front Street. To make a reservation, call 778-2397.
Devaney, Doak & Garrett will be hosting Maine authors Monica Wood and Peter Pfeiffer as guest booksellers on Small Business Saturday. Pfeiffer, a Solon resident will be in the store from 10 a.m. to noon, while Wood, a Portland resident, will be in the store from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. chatting with customers and recommending their favorite books, including Wood’s When We Were The Kennedy’s, and Pfeiffer’s Hard Chance: Tree Farming in Troubled Times.
Hundreds of independent bookstores across the country will be hosting local authors for this year’s Small Business Saturday, thanks to a movement called Indies First. Launched by noted author Sherman Alexie, Indies First encourages authors to volunteer at their local store, to give back some of the support that independent bookstores have traditionally given to authors.
Indies First also encourages authors—and anybody who wants to sell a book through a website—to make a “Buy” button linking to an indie bookstore the first among all e-retailer choices on their websites. For more information contact DDG Booksellers at info@ddgbooks.com, 207-778-3454.
Among the other Farmington businesses participating in Small Business Saturday will be Narrow Gauge Cinemas on Front Street which is offering a special gift certificate sale from 9 a.m. to noon: 10 tickets with popcorn and soda for $55 or 10 movie tickets for $40.
Minikins on Broadway is offering 10 percent off storewide sale and holding a raffle; Enchanted Herbs and Botanicals on Main Street will be having a sale with 15 percent off entire purchases; Twice Sold Tales also on Main Street is offering selected categories on sale; 3D Games on lower Broadway is offering 20 percent off all pre-played games and there will be unadvertised sales in other stores downtown.
Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday serves as the ceremonial kickoff to the holiday shopping season for small businesses across the United States. It is a day dedicated to supporting the local businesses that help to create jobs, boost the economy, and preserve neighborhoods.
Last year, U.S. consumers who were aware of Small Business Saturday reported spending an estimated $14.3 billion with independently-owned businesses on the day, based on the Small Business Saturday Insights Survey, making a big impact on local communities. The day has been championed by elected officials in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., including President Obama.
