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the frankfort station | December 12, 2019 | 11
Shop Small Saturday highlights local businesses
Mary Compton
Freelance Reporter
8
As they entered the
Trolley Barn, Shop Small
Saturday customers were
greeted with a bowl of
Christmas Hershey’s
Kisses and a smile from
This and That Gifts owner
Nancy Cartolano.
Cartolano was one of
several business owners
to take part in the Nov. 30
event, in which downtown
Frankfort shops offered
reverse progressive sales
at different price points
throughout the morning.
As she wrapped gifts
for customers, Cartolano
explained how important
it was for locals to get to
know small businesses in
the community.
“This is a good day for
me,” she said. “We offer
some light discounts of
the day. This is a downtown
event, so our customers
can come shop not
only here but the other
shops as well. This is [a]
kickoff to the holiday season.”
Frankfort resident Ellen
DiCosola said she was
happy about the discounts
and had found many gifts
at Cartolano’s store.
“I like to shop in Frankfort,
and I walk my dogs
past these beautiful windows
that salespeople put
up,” DiCosola said. “It
makes me want to come
in and shop. When there
are discounts like this, it
is fun. We have great businesses
in a great town.”
Frankfort Mayor Jim
Holland and his wife,
Stacy, both came out early
to shop for family gifts
at Whimsy. Lines were
already forming inside
the Frankfort business, a
newer store in town.
This and That Gifts, one of the participating businesses
in Shop Small Saturday, features unique gift items.
“We support Shop
Small Saturday,” Jim Holland
said. “It is a fun day.
It’s blustery and cold.
We’re out shopping for
gifts for the holidays. We
are stopping in most of the
shops today.”
“We’re definitely shopping
in My Sisters and Me
for our daughter-in-law,”
Stacy Holland added.
The Hollands said they
also planned to visit the
new art gallery from the
Frankfort Arts Association,
where they had already
purchased a piece
of artwork.
“Shopping in Frankfort
supports the small business
owners and employees,”
Jim Holland said. “It
brings revenue to the government,
so it decreases
the pressure on increasing
property taxes. If we
shop locally, some of the
money goes to the local
government and helps
maintain the roads and infrastructures.”
Inside Whimsy, longtime
Frankfort resident
Peggy Slager was collecting
bargains.
“I am here to support
the town and to support
the Chamber’s events,”
Slager said. “All our tax
dollars go back into our
town.”
Kristen Schoon, owner
of Little Surprises, already
had several sales for
Shop Small Saturday.
“It’s been great; we’ve
been packed this morning,”
she explained. “Everyone
who has come in
today said, ‘We’re here
to support the small businesses
in our town.’”
One of the top sellers
in the shop was Christmas
dresses, Schoon said.
Little Surprises features
girls’ sizes from newborn
through 16.
“A lot of baby gifts
have been sold as well,”
Schoon added. “Small
businesses are the foundation
of our town. We’re
always giving that special
touch to the community.
Personalization is key.”
Nancy Cartolano (left), owner of This and That Gifts, wraps Christmas presents
for Ellen DiCosola on Nov. 30 at the Trolley Barn during Shop Small Saturday in
Frankfort. Photos by Mary Compton/22nd Century Media
Nicole Walters (left), of Cary, and Lisa Marth, of Mokena, compare deals at Whimsy in
Frankfort.