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Steamboat holiday shopping push extends through weekend

Michael Schrantz
Shari Johansson and her son Elias do some Black Friday shopping at Off the Beaten Path Bookstore in downtown Steamboat Springs. This Saturday support the local bookstore with "Small Business Saturday" and by spending an afternoon with Denver author, Mark Stevens.
Matt Stensland

— Just before 6 a.m. on Black Friday, all was quiet in Steamboat Springs.

There was no group huddled in front of Staples waiting for $79 Kindle Fires and deals on flash drives. Fewer than 10 cars sat in front of Walmart, and the couple people trickling in had on name tags and blue polo shirts.

Whether because of second helpings of turkey, a lack of enthusiasm or deal hunting’s steady creep into Thanksgiving Day itself, Black Friday in Steamboat Springs lacked some frenzy.



Later in the morning, Walmart swelled a little with the start of some more deals, but the rest of Central Park Plaza stayed largely empty. Through Steamboat, downtown was populated by breakfast goers more than shoppers. Ace at the Curve on the west side of Steamboat saw some traffic for its specials.

But the relaxed, mountain town pace to Steamboat’s Black Friday doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be had throughout the weekend.



A number of downtown stores are advertising anniversary sales or special discounts for Friday and Saturday, and Mainstreet Steamboat Springs is organizing a chocolate tasting promotion dubbed Sweet Treats on Mainstreet for the Shop Small day organized by American Express.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 35 businesses will have treats out for whoever is strolling through downtown.

That’s exactly the same number of participating stores and restaurants as last year, according to Mainstreet Steamboat manager Tracey Barnett.

The merchants like having a simple promotion to draw customers, she said, and people have said they enjoy having a reason to hop from business to business downtown.

“It’s not all about the big TVs,” Barnett said about the small-business centric promotion.

To reach Michael Schrantz, call 970-871-4206, email mschrantz@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @MLSchrantz


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