Santa spotted in Lynbrook on Small Business Saturday

Families flocked to local stores to shop last Saturday — and to see Santa.

Tim Baker/Herald

Local families greeted Santa when he arrived early last Saturday morning on a Lynbrook fire truck. Pictured from left were brothers Kaden, Max and Jack Rogers, their grandmother Rhonda Glickman, her daughter Shari Bowes, and Bowes’s son, Ryan.

Tim Baker/Herald

Santa stopped for some frozen yogurt at TCBY in Philips Plaza.

Tim Baker/Herald

The big man thanked his helpers Jennifer Derrig, left, and Denise Rogers.

Maureen Lennon/Herald

• 
• 
• 
• 

Last Friday, thousands of Long Islanders rushed to area shopping malls for Black Friday sales, crowding department stores like Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s.

And the next day, many smart shoppers flocked to their neighborhood downtown shopping areas to save on holiday gifts from local establishments that took part in Small Business Saturday.

“We definitely saw more people out and about, moving in and out of our store, making purchases,” said Ellen Copeman, owner of the Lynbrook Runner’s Stop. “I think it was a great event and a great way to get people out to the stores around the holidays. I’d love to see more events like this.”

This was the second Small Business Saturday in Lynbrook — part of a national effort, started by American Express and local chambers of commerce in 2010, to encourage consumers to shop at local businesses on one of the biggest holiday shopping weekends of the year. The Lynbrook chamber pulled out all the stops to ensure that village businesses would see as much traffic as possible, with events planned throughout the day for shoppers of all ages.

The festivities kicked off bright and early with the arrival of Santa Claus on a Lynbrook fire truck. He posed for pictures with children and families before joining them for free movie screenings at the United Artists Theatre in Lynbrook. Santa was also seen traveling throughout the village, greeting shoppers, and spotted later at the Lynbrook Public Library, where he helped children create holiday-themed arts and crafts.

Gabrielle Barnes, a Hewlett resident and a mother of two, said the children’s events held throughout the day made it the perfect chance to get shopping done while keeping her kids happy. “Holiday shopping can be a really stressful experience, especially when you’re doing it with children,” Barnes said. “It’s crowded, and the kids can get restless. But events like this really do make it easier. I can keep them happy and occupied in a safe environment by taking breaks or going to see Santa, while I’m able to get a lot of my shopping done at once.”