Bright and early on Black Friday morning, Jake Dryzal looked for some steals and deals at George's Song Shop in Downtown Johnstown.
He could have turned to a big box store, but decided to keep his Black Friday shopping local.
His purchases were also one day short of Small Business Saturday, which encourages purchasing holiday gifts from local businesses.
"It's just very important to support your small businesses. Johnstown isn't really the biggest, busiest business community. Every small business that we can support is always really appreciated for them," Dryzal told 6 News.
Just a few stores down the road at Classic Elements gift shop and cafe, Black Friday shoppers were also shopping small.
Co-Manager Cassidy Polacek says the farther we move from the start of the pandemic, the more customers they see in their store.
I think we're really starting to see that so many people want to support their hometown. You hear more people say, 'We want to support local.' We want to go to these places that are smaller -- so we can support the people who are right here -- trying to make a living for themselves. Trying to make that American dream, that the people who own the larger corporations have already succeeded and then some," she told 6 News.
Helping to bring 'life' back into small towns.
"I think that hometown spirit is right here for the holidays, and Johnstown is really encapsulating that," Polacek told 6 News.
If you spend $35 at Classic Elements and Balance Restaurant -- and present your receipts -- you can get a $10 gift card for both places.
At Classic Elements, for every $20 you spend, you can be entered to win a $50 gift certificate.