The holiday shopping season is underway, and the focus shifts to a specific kind of retail therapy in San Francisco on Saturday.
After Thanksgiving and Black Friday comes "Small Business Saturday."
San Francisco Mayor London Breed said this week there's a certain charm to buying, and smelling, a candle at a local gift shop. Breed, who counts EI Home on Chestnut Street as a local favorite of hers, said she can't replicate that experience by trusting online reviews.
There are plenty of unique spots like her favorite all around the city, and Breed said those establishments need San Francisco's support as the city continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Shop in Hayes Valley, shop in the Sunset, in the Inner Sunset and other places where you see all these incredible, unique stores," Breed implored city residents.
Breed said she wanted local shoppers to grab a bite to eat while they're at it, helping all of those businesses still trying to bounce back from COVID-related shutdowns.
"With just a small increase in shopping locally, that can increase our support in revenues to the city by millions of dollars," Breed said.
Patrons who shop at the bigger stores around Union Square will notice more police officers patrolling following last week's smash-and-grab incidents. Three city-run garages – at 444 Stockton St., 123 O'Farrell St. and 333 Post St. – will also offer free, two-hour parking through the end of the year.
"We have our police officers in those garages as well," Breed said. "We have an escort program. We have a number of ambassadors. We're keeping the streets clean, and we're gonna work at this every single day."
Related
