BUFFALO, N.Y. — You still have time to get your holiday shopping done, and for our Most Buffalo Story of the Day, we're taking you to the Elmwood Village where it's easy to check things off your Christmas shopping list.
"If you want these businesses to be here year-round, the businesses, the restaurants, now is the time to show your support, and don't wait because if there's a storm, that affects us a whole lot more than it affects Target, or the mall, or where ever else people are shopping," said Therese Deutschlander, President of the Board of the Elmwood Village Association and Owner of Thin Ice Gift Shop.
For shops in the Elmwood Village, the amount of business they do now is crucial.
"Even if you can't come out and use your dollars, share their social media posts, engage with them, anything that you can do to support these small businesses, doesn't only help them to have a successful fourth quarter, which a lot of businesses rely on that, but it helps to ensure that they'll be here in January, they'll be here in February, they'll be here next summer when your friend, when your family comes in from out of town and you want to show them Elmwood," said Therese Deutschlander.
Thin Ice is not only a local gift shop, when you shop there, you're supporting more than two-hundred local artists.
"It's also so wonderful to be able to message an artist to say, hey, I sold out, you know, I need more, and I'm sure there's the, oh my gosh, I have to make more, but oh my gosh, I sold out. And so for people to be shopping here and supporting the small, it's not just the small businesses, but it's the local artists," said Therese Deutschlander.
And, big groups of friends come out to do their Christmas shopping every year.
"They all pile in their car, and they go to The Place for Tom and Jerrys, and they shop all of Elmwood, and they go here for whatever they like to eat, and so they have these traditions, and they're just so wonderful, and it's just so lovely to be a part of them," said Therese Deutschlander.
This year, they'll be able to check out stores like Little Salmon, a zero waste refill store specializing in natural products.
"Every product here is designed to swap out the plastic you want that you might already be using at home. If it breaks down, if you run out, you can come here to get plastic-free and refillable options," said Tracey Wei, Owner of Little Salmon.
Little Salmon just moved to Elmwood recently after being on Lexington since 2021.
"Every store has their own take and flair and brings, you know, their perspective to their neighborhood. You're never going to find cookie cutter things," said Tracey Wei.
Purple Doorknob opened on Elmwood in May. This is its second location in addition to the one in Ellicottville. Purple Doorknob sells novelty socks, and so far, has found success in the Elmwood Village.
"The people who live in this neighborhood are wonderful, the small business owners here really look out for each other. People have been very welcoming. Very, a lot of people have reached out to offer help, support. It's been really excellent, really easy to make friends and fit in. It's a great, great neighborhood," said Nikki Himes, Owner of Purple Doorknob.