Shop local on South First Street

Updated: Saturday, 27 Nov 2010, 9:19 PM CST
Published : Saturday, 27 Nov 2010, 8:07 PM CST

AUSTIN (KXAN) - We all know how popular "First Thursdays" are on South Congress Avenue.? Now merchants on another thoroughfare into downtown are trying to lure similar foot traffic with a campaign called "Saturdays on South First."? It kicked off this weekend in collaboration with the national campaign called Small Business Saturday.

You name it, you can find it on South First Street. Things to see, hear, eat and wear.? And all of it is local--not part of a chain.

To celebrate her mother's birthday Lena Yanez wanted a couple dozen cupcakes. She got them at Sugar Mama's Bakery on South First instead of a grocery store.
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"Oh no, they're much, much better and its local," said Yanez.

Buying local is something Austinites are good at.? Now the Austin Independent Business Alliance wants them to check out different local businesses---the ones along South First.
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"There's a lot of vintage clothing, shops, record stores, amazing food, food trailers,? food restaurants.? There's all kind of stuff," said Mark Breeding from Sugar Mama's Bake Shop.

Merchants along South First would like to see the kind of pedestrian flow that South Congress gets.? They say their shops offer a unique items and a one of a kind experience.
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"South First Street has a lot less foot traffic than South Congress does but the shops that run up and down South First Street are amazing and everyone kind of supports each other," said Breeding.

On this Small Business Saturday, the Austin Independent Business Alliance says if people spent all their money locally--14 million would have ended up in the Austin economy.

"It's amazing, I mean especially in times like this you're going to want as much economy staying in your city as you can," said Breeding.

It was a sweet idea for Yanez in more ways than one.

"Money gets put back into the Austin where we're from, that's always great," said Yanez.

If you couldn't make it out to this weekend's Saturday on South First there's always next Saturday. Saturdays on South First will become a weekly event.
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