Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) encouraged residents to keep small businesses in mind when making purchases during the holiday shopping season. 

Harmon even took to Facebook where he urged people to shop locally beyond Small Business Saturday.

"This Small Business Saturday, I was recovering from some mild side effects after receiving my COVID booster shot, so I wasn't able to get out in the community," Harmon wrote in a Dec. 1 Facebook post. "But we shouldn't confine our support for local businesses to one day!"

Harmon even announced plans to highlight different small businesses in his district throughout the month of December. 

"I remember my first teenage visit to Val's on South Boulevard. It was a magical place—so many records in such a small place," Harmon wrote in the Facebook post. "More recently, the beloved owner, Val, helped me track down some Jason Isbell albums to share with a Senate colleague before she passed away. Val's legacy is continued at Val's Halla Records. If you are a music lover like me, you owe it to yourself to pay them a visit."

On Nov. 26, Harmon posted several ways that community members could support small businesses in their areas. 

"This year has been particularly tough for our small business community," Harmon wrote in the post. "This #SmallBusinessSaturday, I encourage you to find creative ways to #ShopSmall order takeout, shop online or buy a gift card to show a local business you care."

In a report by Fox Illinois, one downtown Springfield business owner said she'd not seen a better turnout in the time she'd owned her business. Corrine Campbell, owner of Corrine's Closet, told Fox early on during the day hundreds of people had walked through her doors. 

In Tazewell County, small business owners also raved about the turnout they saw, according to Heart of Illinois ABC.