Shoppers across the country visited the large department stores for deals on Black Friday and will purchase more gifts online on Cyber Monday, but one special day sandwiched in between brings more of a local flavor to the holiday shopping season.

Small Business Saturday is a newer tradition designed to entice shoppers to spend some money at the places that aren’t on every street corner or are in every city.

One city making Small Business Saturday a priority is Long Beach. The city announced that, in support of its local entrepreneurs and business owners, it is making metered parking free in the following areas on Saturday:

• Downtown Long Beach: Street parking south of 10^th Street, including the Pike Outlets.
• Belmont Shore: Street parking and the five public parking lots.

“Long Beach is home to a vibrant and diverse small business community,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “By shopping local on Small Business Saturday and all holiday season long, residents can discover hidden gems, support local entrepreneurs and help create a thriving economy.”

Businesses in the area include Coffee Drunk, which offered shoppers discounts on Saturday morning, I Luv Ur Buns, which is offering a free Baognet for every $30 spent, Prism Botique and Adelita’s Revenge. KTLA’s Erin Myers was at all four locations on Saturday, sampling some of their tasty treats and talking to some of the owners.

“Small businesses are the backbone of the country and it’s really important that consumers realize that,” said I Love Ur Buns chef Sonya Suon. “You’re giving back to your community and we really do need that support.”