Small Business Saturday falls on November 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The easiest way to take part is to pick one neighborhood, find two or three independent shops there before the day, and do some of your holiday shopping in person. Open Shelf lists 434 independent shops with guides for 20 US cities, so you can start with your city page below.
I run a small shop myself, so this is my favorite Saturday of the year and also my busiest. Here's why it matters from my side of the counter, and how to make the most of it from yours.
Why does shopping at independent shops matter?
I'll keep this to what I see every day, not statistics.
A person chose everything on the shelf. In a small shop, the owner or a buyer picked each item, often after meeting the person who made it. That's why you find things there you won't see anywhere else.
Your purchase decides what stays. When something sells, I reorder it. When it doesn't, it goes. So when you buy a candle from a local maker in my shop, you're telling me to keep making room for that maker.
Makers get a real shelf. Many independent shops exist to give small brands a place to start. HomeGrown Decatur outside Atlanta, for example, has given emerging local and regional makers an affordable brick-and-mortar home since 2010. For a lot of makers, that first shelf is how a side project becomes a business.
You get help. Ask what's new, what's local or what sells for a hard-to-buy-for uncle, and you'll get an answer from someone who knows the stock.
How do I find independent shops in my city?
Start with the Open Shelf city guides. Each one lists independent shops by neighborhood, and every listing links to the shop's own website:
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Seattle
- Portland
- Austin
- Philadelphia
- Denver
- Nashville
- Boston
- Atlanta
- Minneapolis–St. Paul
- Washington, DC
- San Diego
- Houston
- Dallas–Fort Worth
- New Orleans
- Miami
- Detroit
Or see them all on the cities page.
Open Shelf started as a directory for makers looking for shops that take new brands. That makes it a good shopping list, too: these are shops that go looking for small makers on purpose.
How do I plan a Small Business Saturday route?
Pick one neighborhood. Shops cluster. In Philadelphia, East Passyunk has Occasionette, a colorful gift shop with a big card wall. Old City has several shops a few blocks apart. Cluster your stops and you'll spend the day shopping, not parking.
Check the shop's own site before you go. Holiday hours change, and some shops have more than one location. The Pharmacy at The Supermarket in Atlanta's Poncey-Highland is in person only, with no online shop. Its listing notes that hours shift around private events, so check before you head over.
Look for "made here" shops if you want local gifts. Some shops carry only work from their city or state. Made in TN sells only Tennessee-made gifts, with stores around Nashville and Franklin. Shop Made in DC carries only goods from DC-based businesses, across several locations.
Bring your list, then leave room for surprises. Know who you're shopping for, but give yourself permission to find something you didn't plan on. That's the point of a small shop.
Ask about wrapping. Some shops wrap gifts. Lundeen's, across from City Hall in Culver City, offers complimentary gift wrap. If you're not sure, ask at the register.
What should I know about shopping small on a busy Saturday?
A few things from behind the counter that make the day better for everyone:
- Go early if you can. Afternoons are the busiest. The morning is when you'll get the most help.
- Be patient at the register. Many small shops are staffed by the owner plus one or two people.
- Ask where things come from. Most owners love this question. It's how you'll hear the maker's story you can pass on with the gift.
- Follow the shops you love. If you can't buy everything on the day, following a shop on Instagram or signing up for its emails keeps you in the loop for restocks.
What if I can't shop in person?
Many shops on Open Shelf have their own websites, and every listing links to the shop's site. Buying directly from a shop's own site still supports that shop. If a shop is in person only, like The Pharmacy at The Supermarket, plan a visit after the holidays. Independent shops need customers in January, too.
What else can I do to support small shops?
Buying is the big one, but not the only one:
- Tell a friend. Word of mouth is how most small shops grow.
- Leave a kind review on the shop's map listing or social page.
- Gift a local maker's work with a note about who made it. The person who gets it might become that shop's next regular.
- Come back. The shops that make Small Business Saturday special are open the other 364 days, too.
FAQ
When is Small Business Saturday 2026?
Saturday, November 28, 2026, the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
How do I find small businesses near me?
Start with the Open Shelf city guides. There are 20, from New York City to Detroit, and each lists independent shops by neighborhood.
Are the shops on Open Shelf independent?
Open Shelf lists independent shops, including gift shops, boutiques, bookstores and museum shops, that publicly invite small brands and makers to submit their work. Always check a shop's own site for hours and locations.
Can I shop these stores online?
Many have their own websites, and each Open Shelf listing links to the shop's site. Some, like The Pharmacy at The Supermarket in Atlanta, are in person only.
What if my city isn't listed?
Open Shelf has guides for 20 cities so far. Shops outside those cities still appear in the directory and on their state pages.