While holiday shopping seems to be getting earlier each year, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday remain the official start to the holiday shopping season. Since we’re all about supporting local here at Weelunk, we are looking forward to supporting our favorite small businesses across the city on Saturday, Nov. 25.
The idea behind Small Business Saturday is to promote the economic contributions of small businesses and highlight the importance they have in communities across the country. Small businesses do so much for our communities, like providing jobs and unique products and services. While it’s important to support these places year-round, having this special day is a wonderful way to show our appreciation for the businesses that make our city unique and foster a sense of community.
To inspire your Small Business Saturday experience, we’ve put together a sample itinerary for enjoying all that Wheeling has to offer.
9 a.m. – Fuel Up with Breakfast at Sarah’s on Main
Start your morning off with a cozy breakfast at Sarah’s on Main. Since 2018, Sarah Lydick and her team have used the freshest ingredients to make some of the best bread, pastries, and meals you’ll find in Wheeling. With their commitment to producing high-quality food, it’s no surprise that Sarah’s on Main was recognized by Food & Wine Magazine as having the ‘Best Bread in West Virginia’ in 2022.
Sarah’s will be open on Small Business Saturday from 7 a.m. – noon. We recommend ordering a brioche breakfast sandwich or a perfectly sweet morning bun, but you can’t go wrong with anything on Sarah’s menu!
Take a look behind the scenes at how Sarah’s famous bread is made fresh each morning:
10 a.m. – Stroll Through Centre Market
After you’ve finished your breakfast, get some fresh air and take a walk up to Centre Market for their Small Business Saturday balloon drop at 10 a.m. Each balloon will contain free gifts, coupons, and other surprises from Centre Market businesses, including a few $20 gift cards!
After you snag your prize from the balloon drop, take a stroll and explore all that Centre Market has to offer. From vintage wares to clothing and art there is truly something for everyone in Centre Market. Visit centremarket.org to browse through the full list of shops.
11:30 a.m. – Hop on the Queen of the Valley Trolley
Thanks to the City of Wheeling and the Ohio Valley Regional Transit Authority, you can park once and shop all day in Downtown Wheeling. The Queen of the Valley trolley will make stops at Centre Market, Market Plaza, and the Wheeling Artisan Center from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. for free! This is a great way to explore Downtown Wheeling without having to navigate through construction construction cones to find a good parking spot.
Check out our Shop Small page to see the full the trolley schedule.
11:40 – Make a Shop Small T-Shirt at the Wheeling Artisan Center Shop
For more than two decades, the Wheeling Artisan Center Shop has been a platform for artists and makers from across the state to sell their products. Stop in on Small Business Saturday to find the perfect, locally-made gift for someone on your list. Any visitor at the Wheeling Artisan Center Shop on Saturday will be entered to win a $100 gift card!
From 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. you can make your own Small Business Saturday merchandise at the shop’s screen printing pop-up event. Local artist Mindi Yarbrough designed a special ‘Shop Wheeling’ logo that you can print on t-shirts, totes, and any other fabric material you can think of! Bring your own shirt or tote, or buy one from the shop! If you’re short on time, there will be shirts and totes available to purchase without having to make it yourself.
The Artisan Center Shop is also hosting a pickle tasting with Cat and Garrett of Primal Pickles from noon – 1 p.m. Try some of their tasty pickled products and purchase some goodies for your next get-together.
12:30 p.m. – Explore the Plaza on Market
After hopping on the trolley, make a stop at the Plaza on Market and explore all of the nearby businesses including Mmm Popcorn, Lucky Candies 2, DL’s Hair and Clothing, Dyagon Alley, and Opossum Pouch Soft Goods.
This is also a great time to break for lunch! Luckily, you have plenty of options with places like The Bridge Tavern, Taqueria 304, Tito’s Sloppy Doggs, Panda Chinese Kitchen, Vagabond Kitchen, Elle&Jack’s all within walking distance.
2 p.m. – Time to Visit Wheeling’s Other Neighborhoods
While Downtown and Centre Market have plenty to offer, there are dozens of amazing businesses across the city. From East Wheeling Clayworks in North Wheeling, to The Jeweled Bird tucked away in an old church in Woodsdale, Wheelcraft Bicycles in Elm Grove, and Clientele Art Studio’s Pop-Up Vendor Market in East Wheeling – these businesses need your support too!
Finish Your Day with Ice Skating at Market Plaza!
Head back downtown to end your day with some fun! The City of Wheeling will be adding a synthetic ice rink to the Plaza on Market for the day. Stop by to skate from 3-8 p.m. It is free of charge and ice skates will be available for use.
What are you waiting for? Start making your own Small Business Saturday itinerary now! Browse through the Shop Small Catalog to get inspired. Regardless of where you choose to shop around town, any purchase made at a local business benefits our local economy. In fact, 67 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays in our community. So get out there and find something special for yourself or someone on your holiday shopping list!
While you’re out and about, be sure to share your pictures with us on social media and tag Weelunk – we might just have a surprise gift for one lucky follower!
Happy Small Business Saturday from Weelunk!
• Alex Panas is the Program Manager for Wheeling Heritage, where she works with artists, small business owners, and community stakeholders to provide technical assistance and create meaningful programs that enhance Wheeling. She also serves as the managing editor for Weelunk. Alex lives in St. Clairsville with her husband where they raise four cats and four spunky backyard chickens.