NYC is one of the best cities in the world for unique, local businesses — shop these top spots on Small Business Saturday

Shop like your city depends on it.

In an ever-evolving New York, one thing remains the same, against all odds — we’ve got some of the greatest, most unique independent businesses on earth. And Small Business Saturday is one of the biggest days on the calendar for these cornerstones of Big Apple life — a full-on celebration of neighborhood hustle.

Falling on the Saturday after Thanksgiving each year, the event was first created by American Express in 2010, to shine a spotlight on mom-and-pop retailers, restaurants, and service providers amid the start of holiday shopping frenzy — steering more than $200 billion in revenue their way since, according to data.

A decade and a half on, the day has become as iconic as Black Friday — and all over Gotham, shops will be rolling out special deals, festive events, and exclusive finds, whether you’re strolling the streets looking for inspiration, rushing out to buy gift cards, or even just shopping online from city-based businesses.

“Small Business Saturday is a great chance to slow down, browse local options, and stretch your holiday dollars in meaningful ways. A little intention goes a long way in helping neighborhood shops thrive,” said Matt Schultz, an analyst at LendingTree, which found in a new survey that a majority of Americans plan to participate in the event this year.

That’s good news for shop owners like Caroline Weaver, owner of the Locavore Variety Store in Greenwich Village — where the next few weeks are among the most important of her financial year.