Message from Mayor Josh Losardo | Nov. 17, 2023
Scotch Plains treasures its small businesses. We do everything we can to highlight the many products and services available in our vibrant commercial corridors, as well as the unique selection of restaurants – both old and new.
Our downtown provides the perfect opportunities for small business owners and their employees who want to work locally, serve their friends and neighbors and give back to the town whenever possible.
This year, there has been a number of ribbon-cutting events that we have highlighted in this Messenger and elsewhere. New businesses have cropped up on Park Avenue, Westfield Avenue, East Second Street, Route 22, Terrill Road and elsewhere. In attending these grand opening events, I have been swept up in the enthusiasm of these entrepreneurs, who have invested heavily in Scotch Plains and are committed to sharing in our success.
It was for these reasons, and many others, that I look forward to participating in Small Business Saturday, to be held Nov. 25. It is the ideal time for residents – both old and new – to experience all that is available in their town.
While it has become common to shop online and at the regional malls, there is always something enjoyable about shopping local and supporting our local businesses. These restaurant and shop owners are always the ones to support Scotch Plains’ sports leagues, special events and other community programs. To underscore my point: when was the last time you saw a big box store donate an item for a silent auction to help a local charity?
Large retailers spend heaps of marketing dollars to promote Black Friday, which encourages us to hit the mall in the wee hours of the night for “big specials” and spend our money there. And then we see Cyber Monday, with more large retailers trying to get us to buy even items more online, as we sit at home.
Small business needs attention too, especially as our local shops don’t have the endless marketing dollars to get their word out far and wide. And that is why we are dedicating so much effort to spotlighting Small Business Saturday, launched in 2010 to help even the playing field to at least some degree.
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small business is the backbone of our economy – representing 99.9% of commerce in this country. In fact, America is home to 33.2 million small businesses, which employ nearly half of our nation’s workforce.
Scotch Plains is eager to promote our merchants at every turn. This year, we added an exciting element on Sept. 9: A car show and street fair on East Second Street to spotlight the local businesses.
We will once again decorate the downtown for the holidays with help from local businesses and organizations. We have scheduled lighting events for Christmas on Dec. 3 and Hanukkah on Dec. 7 on our Village Green, to bring hundreds of people downtown and remind them of all that is right here.
I want to thank the many residents who are committed to shopping locally and will turn out for Small Business Saturday, enjoying great deals while helping Scotch Plains. And I hope everyone will visit the downtown again and again throughout the holiday season, in the upcoming days and weeks, as you check off your gift list.
As we enter the season of giving, let’s make sure that our small businesses know that we value and cherish their support of Scotch Plains throughout the year.
