Small Business Saturday boosts local economy in Middletown [Video]

MIDDLETOWN, CT (WFSB) – Small Business Saturday, which falls right after Black Friday, has become a vital day for supporting local businesses, and this year was no exception.

Across Main Street in Middletown, business owners opened their doors early, hoping for a strong turnout of shoppers eager to support the neighborhood’s small shops.

For the past 15 years, the national initiative has encouraged consumers to shop small and support their local economies.

Many of the businesses along Middletown’s Main Street rely on this day to boost their holiday sales, with some owners noting that Small Business Saturday is one of the busiest days of the year.

Katie Hughes-Nelson, owner of Perk on Main, a coffee shop that has been serving the community for over two decades, shared how critical the day is for their success.

“We try to be good employers and offer 401(k)s and paid time off, and we can’t do that without people coming …