48°
Mayor Harry Rilling and the Norwalk Parking Authority are doing this to encourage customers to shop and visit local venues downtown. The free parking does not include parking lots and garages.
“Parking is the first and last experience people have, and we want to help people to find parking easily, get out of their cars, walk around and shop in Norwalk’s amazing downtown," said Dick Brescia, chairman of the Norwalk Parking Authority.
Rilling is calling on Norwalk’s small businesses to make this day a special event by promoting their wares and goods to the community and inviting everyone to come out to celebrate with them and help get the upcoming holiday season off to a great start. Rilling suggests “local businesses and shop owners seize this opportunity to highlight any specials for your customers and to help attract new customers who will discover them and shop while enjoying the free-parking day and our downtown.”
Rilling added that Shop Small Business Saturday “is the day to support Norwalk’s unique and eclectic boutiques, our entrepreneurs and corner shops. Residents and visitors are encouraged to visit downtown, shop, eat and be entertained.”
The two-hour parking limit will be in effect to encourage turnover of the parking spaces. Merchants are encouraged to require their employees to use alternatives to on-street parking so customers will find spaces to park during the day and the entire holiday season.
Founded in 2010 by American Express, Small Business Saturday “has grown into a movement that millions of individuals, businesses, and communities have embraced nationwide—and continue to support each and every day,” the company said in a press release
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
