During this year’s Small Business Saturday and Holiday Homecoming in downtown Niles this weekend, more than 15 local businesses will tantalize customers with products that are not likely to be found in big-box stores.

From the handmade soaps sold at Forever Clean Soap Works to hand painted signs that can be found adorning the walls of Resurrections to the freshly made delights found at Paris Soda Co. and Pizza Transit and hot coffee found at Top Heavy, businesses will seek to offer something for everyone who visits downtown.

Small Business Saturday is coordinated by the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Authority, and will take place all day Saturday.

From 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., shoppers can see the downtown while riding a horse drawn carriage. The rides are free, but donations are suggested to offset costs.

Santa Claus will also be coming to town, and visit with shoppers around 5:15 p.m. Carolers will also perform downtown.

For the first year, Small Business Saturday will debut an Artisan Alley off Second Street. The outdoor market will feature more than a dozen artisans, selling
everything from pottery to freshly baked goods. Musician Eli Kahn will add some ambiance by playing music in the alley, weather permitting.

Lisa Croteau, the Niles Main Street Downtown Development Authority director, encouraged people to support Niles businesses this Saturday.

“We have got some amazingly wonderful businesses,” Croteau said. “It will be fun. And I think it will be the start of a new very cool winter kickoff to the holiday season.”

With the downtown seeing the addition of many new businesses over the past year, Croteau said those who visit Niles are bound to find something new.

“Come see what you have been missing,” Croteau said. “Find something new and explore with friends.”

If the idea of spending all day shopping is not enough to encourage people to visit downtown Niles, perhaps the chance to try Jim Morris’ biscuits and sausage gravy with fresh sage will. Morris is the owner of the Paris Soda Co., 220 E. Main St. and specially for the event, he will open his doors early at 9 a.m. Also on the menu will be hearty breakfast sandwiches piled with barbecue and topped with an egg.

“It’s a breakfast sandwich that is kicked up a few notches,” Morris said. “These things weigh about half a pound.”

Those who purchase a regular meal will get a free drink Saturday for the event. Hot chocolate and coffee will be available.

Morris also encouraged those looking for something unique to ask him to prepare whatever their palate desires. As long as he has the ingredients, Morris said he will try to cook up given requests.

Morris is the former owner of Jim’s Smoking Café, formerly located at Wonderland Cinema, which has now been relegated to a food truck. This year, Morris said he is happy to have a business on the downtown path and encouraged people to check out what is available.

“Even if it is not for shopping, get some coffee and go for a walk,” Morris said. “It gets a little better every year and the more people that check it out the better.”

Shoppers may take advantage of a number of other culinary delights, including brunch pizzas at Pizza Transit.

The restaurant, known for its Pizza of the Month creations, will serve Breakfast Pizzas, Lumberjack Pizza and Banana Nutella Pizza.

Additionally, shoppers frequenting downtown Niles on Small Business Saturday have the opportunity to win $100 in gift cards for supporting Main Street merchants. Leader Publications, 217 N. Fourth St., will sponsor a downtown scavenger hunt, enticing people to frequent participating downtown businesses.

“Our downtown district has grown tremendously in the past year. We encourage everyone to get into the holiday spirit by seeing all our downtown has to offer this Saturday,” said Ambrosia Neldon, general manager at Leader Publications. “We look forward to seeing loads of happy shoppers at Leader Publications’ office on Fourth Street, and on social media as part of this contest.”

Those interested in participating in the contest should stop by Leader’s office between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday to enter. Then, shoppers can visit participating businesses to earn points toward the contest.

Participating businesses include Pizza Transit, Inner Journey Healing Arts Center, Shelf Life Bookstore, Swirlyz Frozen Yogurt, Healthy Habits, Paris Soda Co., Niles Wellcare Pharmacy and Leader Publications.

For every photo taken inside a participating business and posted to Facebook or Instagram using the hashtag #NilesShopsSmall, participants will earn 5 points. For every purchase at a participating business, participants will earn 15 points. Participants must prove their purchase by showing a receipt at the Leader Publications office on Saturday. Winners with the most points will be contacted next week to pick up their gift certificates.

“This is a fun way to show off our great downtown and bolster the business district,” Neldon said. “We hope to see you all Saturday.”