ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Friday after Thanksgiving has traditionally been called "Black Friday". While Black Friday deals often dominate the headlines, in Old Town Alexandria, there's a different tradition: Plaid Friday.
The event is a “shop local” version of Black Friday, and encourages consumers to support small businesses in their communities.
“The idea is that your business community is plaid, woven, unique — these businesses come together to create the fabric of our community,” said Danielle Romanetti.
Romanetti is the owner of Fibre Space on Prince Street in Old Town, Alexandria.
Fibre Space, a local yarn store, offers knitting and crocheting supplies, from yarn to needles and hooks, catering "to those crafting heirloom-quality garments," she said.
“We called it royal mile; this is our custom color. You can only get it here,” she said, showcasing the shop's exclusive products.
Romanetti spent Thanksgiving Day preparing her store for the busy event.
“We restock everything, we put up crowd control, get our signs ready, and really just make sure everything is full so we’re ready for tomorrow morning,” Romanetti said late Thursday afternoon. “We see a couple hundred people in the first two hours.”
She is one of more than 50 local business owners in Old Town, Alexandria participating in Plaid Friday.
Plaid Friday, according to Romanetti, is a calmer alternative to the chaos of Black Friday. “Nobody’s punching each other. We’re not fighting over televisions. It’s leisurely. The tree lights are on, and you might meet a shop owner in their pajamas,” she said. “If you wear plaid to the local bookstore, you get an extra discount. It’s a fun, family-friendly feel.”
It's not just shopping deals that you can score. Some of the local restaurants are also joining in on the fun.
"We've partnered with some of our local restaurants to give deals as well. Chadwick's has a $2 mimosa if you go down and show a receipt from one of our boutiques. Eddie's which is close to me here on the 1400 block of King is doing a discount on Italian grinders for people that show a receipt from our businesses. So it's really just like a day to support your local business community and there's no better place in Alexandria for that," she said.
By participating, shoppers are also investing in their local community. “It’s putting money right back into the community that you’re part of,” Romanetti noted.
If you’re unable to shop on Friday, don’t worry. Romanetti says that Small Business Saturday, another local shopping event, will offer plenty of opportunities for deals. “Most of our boutiques have gifts with purchases, so you can wander around town collecting gifts when you spend,” she said.
More than 50 businesses in Old Town Alexandria are taking part in Plaid Friday, encouraging shoppers to explore the area while supporting small, local establishments.
To read the full list of participating shops, click here.