When was the last time you parked your car somewhere downtown, on the street, in the Nelson Street garage or parking lot just outside of it, in the Bank Street or Park Street parking lot or even the James Street Garage and just walked around downtown Peekskill? Not to just go directly to the restaurant, store, business or event you planned on, but just wandered around and took a slow stroll through the downtown, looking through the windows or even opening the door and stepping inside to browse through the store? Some may say there is nowhere to shop and nothing to buy, but when was the last time you tried? When was the last time you parked and walked around 5 or 6 blocks checking out the stores downtown? This year, the small businesses downtown, and all throughout Peekskill, need your help more than the big box stores ever will. Therefore, they are challenging Peekskill citizens to Re-Discover Peekskill.  

In a grassroot effort, Emily Barrett, a local artist and owner of Fox Burrow Designs, “wanted to do something, no matter how small, to get people out and shopping locally.” One of her passions, and a good part of her business comes from drawing local businesses, the buildings they are housed in and detailing the amazing architecture located throughout the City of Peekskill.

After reaching out to a few local businesses in the downtown, Emily used her creative skills, artistry, created custom graphics and designed a Small Business Saturday postcard showing a snippet of the businesses participating in Small Business Saturday. 

Emily then reached out to the Peekskill Business Improvement District and the Board of Directors approved a request to underwrite the cost of printing the Small Business Saturday postcards. The postcards, printed locally at Copy Center & Services, include a Peekskill BID logo and QR code. Once scanned, the QR code will bring visitors to DiscoverPeekskill.com where visitors can find a map of all of the shops, restaurants, cafes, and service businesses Peekskill has to offer in the downtown. 

“This grassroots initiative demonstrates how businesses can collaborate to promote all that Peekskill has to offer–specialty shops, professional services, and fine dining–all staffed by dedicated local business owners and employees who are ready to deliver a friendly, personalized customer experience during the holidays,” said Bill Powers, Executive Director of the Peekskill BID. Best of all, the City of Peekskill Common Council recently approved free four-hour parking at metered/numbered spaces in the Nelson Avenue and James Street parking garages during the holiday season for the period between November 29, 2024 and January 1, 2025. Therefore, there is plenty of free parking, which gives the opportunity for people to get out of the car and wander the downtown to see and visit local shops. 

Saturday, November 30th is the day after Black Friday this year. Though Black Friday seems to have lost its luster, and lasts the whole month of November in some big box stores, Small Business Saturday is a day that shines a spotlight on local businesses all over America. “Supporting our local restaurants and retail stores during this holiday season is giving back to your community. When we eat local and shop local, we are helping our neighbors, stimulating our local economy and building a stronger community,” said Carole Voisey executive director of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce.

This Small Business Saturday, park the car, walk to the center of downtown Peekskill and head over to Busy Corner, where Main Street and Division Street intersect. About 30 steps up at 108 North Division Street, you will find a small business called the Wedding Collective. The Wedding Collective is  a full-service event planning, and design collaboration that includes florals, photography, and stationery. However, on Small Business Saturday their doors open to become host to three local shops including Fox Burrow Designs, Maple Field Floral and Makeup by Doji as pop-up shops. There you can find holiday stationery, Peekskill themed products, florals, wreaths, vintage decor, and makeup. This is also where you can enter the raffle to win a Peekskill themed gift basket. 

After visiting the Wedding Collective Pop-Up Shows, head one block away to 922 Main Street and visit the Lounge House where you can find in the women’s boutique, jewelry, candles, and gifts. If you are hungry, stop at one of the local delis or restaurants along the way. After grabbing a few nice items at The Lounge House, head back to North Division Street and visit Quirkshop at 23 North Division Street on Restaurant Row. There, shoppers can find locally made, eco conscious art to wear, vintage clothing & other gifts.

After checking out Quirkshop, checkout Division Street Guitars across the street or grab an appetizer from Whiskey River, ramen from Ramenesque or something else from one of the many restaurants located along Division Street. Or continue walking towards the gazebo and make a left and check out the shops and stores along Park Street. Make sure to stop by Perla de Oriente Panaderia and have some of the best Latino made artisan breads, cakes, donuts and sweets and baked goods made right here in Peekskill for more than 16 years.  

If you are not ready for a sweet treat, make a right at the gazebo instead and head down Central Avenue and into the Bruised Apple Bookstore, Valley Greens, or Iron Health. At the Bruised Apple, open since 1993, you can peruse the aisles of used and rare books or check out their vinyl records, CD and DVD section and find the perfect old school gift for that one person that is hard to shop for. You never know what you will find. Next door to the Bruised Apple, find one of Peekskill’s newest cannabis dispensaries, Valley Greens. Above Valley Greens is Wellness Central. where you can relax with a soak in the immersion pool or sweat away stress in the dry sauna or energize yourself with a plunge in their plunge pool. Gift certificates make a perfect gift for a family member or friend. Cross Division Street and pop into The Fern Tree, Peekskill’s African American gift shop that’s been in business for the past 30 years. 

Around the corner, on South Street, is Iron Health. Visit them throughout the day and ask about their exclusive specials for their training program, get your legs relaxed with a free compression boots massage, or join a free small group (5 people max) personal training workout with one of their trainers. If working out is not on your agenda for the day, stop in anyway and get entered into a raffle to win “stocking stuffer” style prizes just by showing up. In addition, Skinchanted CBD will be at Iron Heath on Small Business Saturday. Skinchanted CBD will be giving away free mocktail samples, as well as retailing Skinchanted CBD mocktail and tincture holiday goodie bags. Visit Skinchanted CBD at Iron Health and enter a raffle to win a free CBD product.

After that, cross South Street and head over to the Flatiron Building where the Flatiron artists and shops will collaborate to host an ArtFULL Holiday Shopping event. 

From the Peekskill Coffee House and BUCKO! downstairs to all of the shops and artist galleries upstairs, you can find lots of artFULL holiday gifts. At the Flatiron, shoppers will find paintings, drawings, art prints, vintage clothing and toys, ornaments, stained glass goodies, lots of jewelry, pottery, scarves, and lovely fine gifts. 

Downstairs at the Flatiron Building, grab a  cup of coffee at the Peekskill Coffee House and stop by BUCKO! Where you can find fantastic, final sale deals on everything in the shop including Peekskill themed swag.

Upstairs, the Flatiron Building will be bustling with art, artists, and more on both Saturday and Sunday November 30th and December 1st from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wendie Garber’s Flat Iron Gallery, Maureen Winzig’s WinzigArt Studio, Lavinia Wiggins Art Studio, Alison’s Stained Glass, Elizabeth Castaldo Art & Books, and 222 Much Swag Vintage will all be open and help you find that special gift. 

Find a stained glass window hanging or ornament at Alison’s Stained glass. Visit Elizabeth Castaldo Arts & Books and grab beautiful paper art and books. Lavinia Wiggins Studio brings her oil paintings, collages, and a few must see oddities. Maureen Winzing’s Winzig Art Studio brings oils and watercolor artworks, earrings, and ornaments. And Wendie Garber’s  Flat Iron Gallery has a plethora of items, being a staple for art and gifts for over 25 years. Take a look at some of the amazing products that can be found there and the artists. Don’t forget while you are there to stop at 222 Much Swag Vintage which takes patrons back to the 80’s, 90’s and beyond with fly clothing, hats, sneakers, posters, games and toys.

Check out their video showcasing the shops and stores at the Flatiron for the event using this link.

After purchasing some artwork, ornaments, jewelry and new swag, walk across the Esther Street parklet and visit the BeanRunner Cafe and ask about all of the events they have, as well as see if there are still tickets available to see the Nir Naaman Quartet later that evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Head to the Paramount Hudson Valley and check out their jam packed lineup of events. (Just as an FYI, from now through November 29, the Paramount Hudson Valley is having a Black Friday Gift Certificate Special. If you purchase a $200 gift certificate, the Paramount will add an additional $50 as a thank-you for your support. If you purchase a $100 gift certificate, the Paramount will add another $20 as a thank-you for your support.)

After checking out the lineup of events at the Paramount, head back towards Division Street. Make a left onto South Street and walk half a block down and visit Stark Vintage at 925 South Street. There you can find curated vintage clothing and custom pieces. Check out the old school  band shirts and vintage sports shirts. Cross the street and Say hello to Jo at Jo’s Body Shop. At JOs Body Shop you can find a wide selection of gifts including jewelry, stones and crystals, singing bowls, incense, wearables, artwork and more. As a special perk, on Small Business Saturday JO’s will be offering a 10% discount storewide for the day. From there, you can visit A&D Jewelry and The Field Library Book Store where you can find great discounted used books, or keep walking two blocks down where you will find one of Peekskill’s newest shops, Kinship Co-Working and Kinship Retail at the intersection of South Street and Washington Street. It will be worth the walk. Kinship Co-Working is not just a co-working place, they also have local art and amazing pieces for the hard to shop for person. They will be offering champagne or Prosecco to shoppers who browse their local artist retail space. 

After shopping locally till your heart’s content, head down to the Peekskill Waterfront where you can find Dylan’s Wine Cellar and grab a bottle of wine for later that evening when you finally put your feet up and grab a bottle as a gift for someone. The day isn’t done though, to top it all off, head down Water Street to Peekskill’s newest pub, the Copperhead Club. The Copperhead Club is offering 10% off the entire bill, when you show a receipt for retail items from Small Business Saturday’s shopping in Peekskill. Check out the picture for all of the palaces that they will accept a retail receipt from. 

There are so many more places throughout Peekskill outside of the downtown. Head down Washington Street and stop at one at any one of the numerous delis, cafes, or restaurants along the way such as Peekskill Public House, Kyle’s Pub, Sabor Ambateno Bakery ll, Fughettaboutit Deli, NY Firehouse Grill to name a few. Or stop at Cloud 9-14 or The Zoo Pet Center and purchase an edible for those who are legal age or grab a fish, a hamster, or a toy for the dog or the cat. Head down Welcher Avenue and purchase a flower arrangement from Forever Yours Flowers & Gifts.

On the other side of the City on North Division Street at the Hat Factory and where you can find Remake/Retake or the Hudson Milk Company. On Main Street, stop at places like Beer World, Tuscana Pasta or Beach Wine & Liquors.

There are so many more places in Peekskill in addition to the downtown. They are our friends, neighbors and put their heart and soul into their businesses trying to help make Peekskill a better place to live. The big box stores are great, but they won’t notice your purchase over the next few months. But money spent in a small business will be felt immediately, and might even change their life.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of Peekskill. Every dollar you spend locally, helps not only that business, but also helps the business owner help raise their family. It may even be your neighbor or your child’s friend in school. When we help each other rise, we all rise together. We all win. Peekksill wins. Shop Small Business Saturday and Re-Discover Peekskill.

Take a virtual tour of some of the shops featured in the article in the Herald’s Holiday Shopping guide that ran last year. The stories are here are here.

Don’t forget to tell everyone and all of the small businesses that you read about Small Business Saturday in the Peekskill Herald. 

November is the Peekskill Herald’s big annual fundraising campaign – where every dollar donated is matched, dollar for dollar, by major national funders through our partnership with News Match. Please help by donating to keep this 501c3 news organization thriving. 

Visit the Peekskill Herald Events Calendar Features and the Peekskill Herald Event Calendar to see more local events. To add your event, visit the Peekskill Herald Event Calendar. Subscribe or donate to the Peekskill Herald and receive the most updated news stories to your inbox daily.