Supporting small, local businesses this holiday season in G.C.

Before Glen Cove’s holiday shoppers log onto Amazon or head to the mall this season, they may want to stop by Downtown Glen Cove and peek into some of the local stores, said Patricia Holman, the executive director of the Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District.

“There are plenty of little stores that people aren’t aware of,” Holman said. “You can buy an array of things. Shanti Maa has toys and Life’s ABC’s has almost everything you can think of. They have toys, they have clothes.”

The GLY (God Loves You) religious store, owned by a local family, sells cards, nativity scenes, ornaments, advent candles and calendars.

“We want to make sure that when the winter is over and there is no more Covid and guidelines that we have all of our businesses here in the downtown area,” Holman said. “And the best way to do that is to make sure that we support them.”

On Saturday, Glen Cove resident Nicole Robinson-Helmus, as part of the North Shore Biz Network’s Small Business Saturday event, spent the day checking out local businesses in the North Shore area. She stopped at AquaBrasil Boutique in Glen Head. There, she was able to find Christmas gifts and even some items for herself.

AquaBrasil Boutique took to its Facebook page to express gratitude for the influx of regular and new clients. “Thank you North Shore Biz Network for creating this wonderful event and spreading the importance of supporting local businesses,” the post read.

As part of Small Business Saturday, the North Shore Biz Network had encouraged locals to head to participating businesses, AquaBrasil Boutique, Artisan Jewels Gifts and Goodness, Beautiful Flowers, CoCo Confections and Coffee and My Beautiful Mess. Those who posted online with the hash tag #NSBNSmallBizSat were entered into a contest, which Robinson Helmus had won.

“These are businesses that [business owners] support their families with and also help build the community,” Robinson-Helmus said. “When we support small businesses we actually lift up our community. We actually lift up our neighborhood.”

Robinson-Helmus, the owner of This Balance Life, a yoga and meditation service, knows all too well the importance of supporting local businesses, especially during the pandemic as she has to get creative to meet a new demand. 

“During these times, a lot of people are suffering from depression and anxiety and even loneliness and some people are afraid to step inside the gyms,” Robinson-Helmus said. “That’s why I offer services on Zoom so that people don’t have to feel like they’re alone or they’re by themselves.”

Robinson-Helmus is offering gift certificates this holiday season.