From Mega-Malls to Main Street: Coon Rapids Bets on Local Economy for Holiday Lift

Coon Rapids, Minn. — As the holiday shopping season ramps up following Black Friday, suburban cities are turning their attention back to Main Street. In Coon Rapids, that shift is now official. Mayor Jerry Koch has signed a proclamation declaring Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, as Small Business Saturday, urging residents to support the independent shops that form the backbone of the local economy.

“This is a chance to celebrate the entrepreneurs and community-minded businesses that give Coon Rapids its character,” city officials said in announcing the proclamation, encouraging residents to “shop local” not only for holiday gifts but as a long-term investment in the community’s economic health.

A National Movement Hits Main Street

Small Business Saturday began in 2010, launched by American Express to encourage holiday-season spending at locally owned businesses as a counterpoint to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Since its inception, the initiative has become a nationwide civic ritual, with consumers reporting more than $223 billion spent at small businesses across all Small Business Saturdays.

In 2024 alone, shoppers spent an estimated $22 billion at small businesses nationwide, with many owners relying on the day for a significant portion of their holiday revenue. National surveys indicate that small business owners expect nearly 20% of their annual revenue to come from sales on Small Business Saturday, highlighting its critical role in the economic calendar.

Small Businesses: Minnesota’s Economic Backbone

Small businesses are a cornerstone of Minnesota’s economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small enterprises account for 99.5 percent of all businesses in the state, employing roughly 1.3 million people, or 46 percent of the workforce.

In Coon Rapids, the city’s small businesses range from long-standing community staples to innovative new ventures. Local favorites include Time & Place Tropical Wine Bar, offering a blend of Jamaican and Asian-American cuisine; Jellybean and Julia's BBQ, specializing in Texas-style smoked meats; Pizza Flame, a nearly 50-year-old pizzeria under new management; and NerdinOut, a comic book store.

Unlike shopping at national chains, dollars spent locally have a pronounced “multiplier effect,” with economic studies showing that 60–70 cents of every dollar spent at independent businesses is reinvested into the community through wages, local purchases, and taxes.

Why It Matters

For many small businesses, the weekend of Nov. 29 is not just a holiday sales boost—it is critical to year-end financial stability. By issuing a formal proclamation, Mayor Koch and city leaders are aligning local policy with consumer behavior, helping ensure that the economic momentum of the holiday season flows directly into neighborhoods that make Coon Rapids unique.

Small Business Saturday is more than a shopping day; it is a celebration of community resilience, local entrepreneurship, and the neighborhood businesses that give suburban cities like Coon Rapids their identity.

Residents can explore participating local businesses using the city’s interactive map: Coon Rapids Small Business Map

The official proclamation is available here: Small Business Saturday Proclamation

MinneapoliMedia