Business & Tech

Black Friday Remains Slow on Bloomfield Ave

Shoppers and owners look forward to Small Business Saturday.

 

As Black Friday shoppers mob the malls, local businesses are seeing one seriously slow day.

Shoppers are enthusiastic while business owners remain hopeful that Small Business Saturday will make up for Black Friday.

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“Everyone is going to the malls which hurts the town a little bit,” said Carl Nozdrovicky, owner of Caldwell Jewelers on Bloomfield Ave. “There aren't as many retail shops as there used to be in Caldwell but now people are more aware of Small Business Saturday.”

Some loyal shoppers remained on Bloomfield Avenue Friday morning to get a head start on their holiday shopping.

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Gabriella Stiefbold of Verona was picking up some items at Learning Express Toys on Bloomfield Ave.

By Friday afternoon she had been shopping for nearly 12 hours. Stiefbold enjoys the midnight shopping, she said, and usually goes every year on Black Friday.

“I went to the Willowbrook Mall last night at midnight and then went to J.C. Penny,” she said. “The Learning Express is my last stop before going to see Santa in Nutley.”

Some local business owners are using the quiet of Black Friday to get ready for tomorrow's Small Business Saturday, on Nov. 24.

“Some people do have to go to work today,” said John Cirasella, owner of Cirasella's Fine Jewelry on Bloomfield Ave. in Verona. “Saturday is usually our busiest day and Small Business Saturday was very busy last year.”

Angel Cilento of Roseland was more excited for Small Business Saturday than Black Friday.

“I'm always more inclined to give local businesses my business,” Cilento said.

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