Downtown begins push to ‘shop small,’ details new holiday events

Downtown Sioux Falls businesses are encouraging shoppers to keep it local as they begin the holiday season.

Downtown Sioux Falls Inc., Mayor Paul TenHaken and downtown business leaders detailed today what’s coming in the months ahead and urged support for small businesses.

“We’re getting a jump on it this year because I know people are already starting to shop local and shop for the holidays,” TenHaken said.

“When you can, shop small, shop local, support the local economy.”

Downtown functions for the city similar to the heart of an individual, he added.

“If your heart is not working, the rest of your body is going to have a lot of problems,” he said. “If your downtown is not working and clicking and prospering and thriving, the rest of your city is going to have problems.”

Child’s Play Toys owner Nancy Savage estimates that 60 percent of her business for the year comes in the fourth quarter.

“So that really shows you how important this time of year is to local businesses,” she said. “We even have flight attendants who specifically work flights so they can come to Sioux Falls and do their holiday shopping. Shopping local is one of the most important things.”

This year, Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. will offer a number of special reasons to visit downtown, including an expanded MarketBeat Holiday Plaza at 12th Street and Phillips Avenue, the annual Parade of Lights sponsored by First Bank & Trust and special evening shopping events on three Thursdays in December.

On Dec. 5, 12 and 19, downtown stores will offer themed nights involving peppermint, gingerbread and stocking stuffers.

“They’re pretty fun ways to just get into the holiday spirits,” said Joe Batcheller, president of Downtown Sioux Falls Inc.

“These are all really important activities to help bring downtown to life over the holiday season.”

The Downtown Gives coupon book also returns this year. It will be sold for $15 at 24 participating locations, offering coupons that are good during the first quarter of 2025 and benefiting the Union Gospel Mission.

“It takes so many layers to make a thriving downtown,” said Anne Haber, co-owner of Pendar Properties, which is sponsoring Downtown Gives.

“We need to make it a priority to support the families, the people setting up shop, taking the risk, displaying their passions and opening their doors.”

In addition to her family business’ downtown developments and other ventures, Haber recently became a retail business owner with the opening of apparel and home decor store Combine at Cherapa Place.

“Retail is tough,” she said. “So instead of coming in and looking, you really should buy something because that’s what makes the difference for a retailer.”

Start shopping: Downtown retailers offer advice for early holiday gift-buying