In recent years, New Brunswick border communities have been left discouraged by locals travelling to the U.S. for Black Friday sales, but shops in St. Stephen, N.B., are enjoying a revival.
Restaurant owner, Lisa Aronson says she’ll be celebrating a milestone this week as well with the anniversary of opening The Five Kings Restaurant & Picaroons Brewhouse.
"I’m over the moon delighted,” she says. “It's been a great first year… we've only been open a year and a few days, so it's been really exciting and I wouldn't change any of it."
Kristan Cloney also opened a clothing shop on the town’s Main Street last year. She says business keeps growing for the operation.
"The locals have been so supportive,” Cloney says. “We've actually been able to double the size of our store."
One of the low economic points for St. Stephen came in 2014, when the Sobeys store was closed, but the opening of a new Civic Centre has been described as a catalyst for growth.
Richard Fulton leads a group called Future St. Stephen that was formed to encourage local entrepreneurship. He says business in the area has changed in the last three years with approximately 55 to 60 new or significantly changed businesses popping up in the community.
"Two or three years ago, we were wondering how we would cover the windows up in the vacant buildings on the front street,” Fulton says. “Now when someone approaches me saying I’m interested in starting a business, it's getting more difficult to find an open spot for them.”
St. Stephen Mayor, Allan MacEachern says he’s seeing more of the town’s people investing in local shops despite turnaround in cross border traffic staying strong.
"I do feel it's going to stay,” he says. “People are starting to realize that an investment in their community is coming back into their back pocket again by spending in their own community."
Black Friday sales will take place the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving on Nov. 24.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Mike Cameron.
