Community Corner

'Park on Patch' Brings Smiles on Small Business Saturday

Patch hopes the free parking encouraged residents and visitors to spend money at downtown Salem businesses.

It's a great feeling to pull into a parking place and see the meter covered with a bag reading "Free Parking."

Residents and visitors enjoyed free parking downtown on Saturday courtesy of American Express and Patch.

Folks stopped by the Patch table at Essex and Washington to say "thanks" (and pick up Patch swag like canvas totes and ice scrapers.)

Patch, in partnership with American Express, selected Salem as one of 50 towns and cities across the country to get free parking on Nov. 30 for Small Business Saturday. 

The parking meters were covered to identify the free parking spaces from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. that day. (It's true the city has already made the meters free to encourage shopping downtown — Patch and American Express are reimbursing the city for lost revenue.) 

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The "Park on Patch" initiative is part of an ongoing effort by Patch and American Express to encourage people to shop locally in support of small businesses.

Created by American Express in 2010, Small Business Saturday is now in its fourth year. The annual event, which is celebrated between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is an awesome way to support the small businesses that help make our neighborhoods great.  

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the Small Business Saturday Insights Survey, consumers who were aware of Small Business Saturday in 2012 spent $5.5 billion with independently-owned businesses that day.


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