BUSINESS
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restrictions imposed by the pandemic, but she sees a lot of
hope for 2021.
“The holiday season has been amazing,” she said. “Our
sales have doubled over this time last year. I think that’s
partly due to national coverage of shopping small. I think
people were more aware of Shop Small Saturday.
“There are several new small businesses downtown and all
are doing well, as far as I know,” Muise said. “We hold Sip
and Shop events on Thursday evenings between 5 and 8 p.m.,
and the city and Main Street Fort Pierce have funded jazz
musicians. That helped bring people downtown.
“We did have a couple of closures — a coffee shop and a
monogramming business — but I don’t believe they closed
because of COVID,” she said. “I hope people will continue
supporting local businesses in 2021. In one afternoon, I had
15 new customers and all of them were adamant about doing
all of their Christmas shopping locally.
“I think the Bistro and Sailfish Brewing Company were the
main catalysts to bringing downtown to life. The breweries,
Muise also mentioned Pierced Ciderworks at 411 N. Second
St. have definitely helped bring younger people here.”
SMALL BUSINESSES DID WELL
Doris Tillman, manager of Main Street Fort Pierce, echoed
Muise’s thoughts.
“Business is certainly not as strong as in prior years, but
we do have a bunch of new businesses, and even though the
number attending Shop Small Saturday was down from 2019,
businesses did very well in sales. That’s good to see.
“Instead of spending money on the canceled Christmas
parade, Main Street brought jazz musicians to regular down->>
Notions and Potions On Second Street, owned by Beryl Muise, sells locally
made candles, gifts and pet treats.
Holiday business was double that of the same period in 2019, Muise said, adding that customers seem determined to shop small and local.