Holiday shopping brings a boost to Burlington businesses

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Were the decor and deals enough to draw shoppers downtown this season?

Businesses throughout Burlington waited with bated breath for weeks for seasonal shoppers to show. They came in droves at the last minute, leaving some retailers happily surprised and others wanting more.

As the holidays crept closer, Homeport general manager Francois Bouchett feared the lull in foot traffic would tank the season.

“It was making us nervous at first but then everyone kind of showed up,” said Bouchett.

The crowds came just two weeks before the festivities.

“Right at the end, everything sort of just came together and a lot of people were out,” said Bouchett.

The last-minute rush was a big relief for many businesses across Burlington who worried ongoing Main Street construction and social instability would scare off customers.

“Those issues are on my mind every day,” said Nicole Carey of Golden Hour.

Local businesses Church Street Marketplace and the Burlington Business Association tried to create a welcoming atmosphere and encourage shopping locally.

“I wanna just say thank you to all the listeners and viewers out there who came down. I think people heard that downtown needed help and they responded,” said Kelly Devine of the Burlington Business Association.

Still, the late influx wasn’t enough to boost everyone’s business. Golden Hour says its overall foot traffic and sales were lower than holidays past.

“We need people to keep coming downtown and supporting small businesses if they want us to be here,” said Carey.

While several businesses left Burlington in the last year, others like Insomnia Cookies and Little Istanbul moved in.

Devine says that combined with ramped-up safety measures, this is a sign that Burlington can show up for shoppers through the holidays and beyond.

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