ELLICOTT CITY, Md. 鈥� Small Business Saturday marked the ceremonial reopening of Main Street in Ellicott City, where the businesses here are still recovering from a deadly flood back in July.
鈥淲e were told by emergency management we could expect about 25 percent of the stores to come back,鈥� said Maureen Sweeney-Smith, the executive director of the Ellicott City Partnership. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got about 75 percent of the stores and they鈥檙e doing very well.鈥�
During a morning ceremony to kick off Small Business Saturday, Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said he had only one request: 鈥淥pen up your wallets and buy some things today.鈥�
The crowd of hundreds who were on hand couldn鈥檛 help but cheer.
鈥淧eople here in Ellicott City care about each other,鈥� said Howard County Executive Allan Kilttleman. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a loving community, we鈥檙e a welcoming community.”
Kittleman said this was important time for business owners.
鈥淭his is the most important time for everyone here, so please from now and the end of the year, please shop in Ellicott City,鈥� said Kittleman. 鈥淗elp these business owners to get back on their feet and nothing is going to help them more than just coming here to shop.鈥�
Shoppers were more than willing to oblige.
鈥淲e did bring some money, and we鈥檙e going to be excited to spend it,鈥� said Ellicott City resident Walter Doss, shortly after walking out of a store on Main Street.
鈥淛ust kind of looking around and just seeing what鈥檚 all here,鈥� he continued.
Paul Houser of Ellicott City strolled through shops that he said have been familiar to him for many years now. He was working on his Christmas list.
鈥淪ome stocking stuffers,鈥� said Houser. 鈥淚 have three girls and this is a great place for them. All the cute little shops and boutiques are fabulous places to buy Christmas presents for them.鈥�
Houser said restaurants were what he and his family missed the most during the rebuilding process. So when he was asked how likely it was that he鈥檇 be spending more money today than he expected to, he quickly answered with a laugh, 鈥済uaranteed, already have.鈥�
