Written by: Meg Angier, Membership and Community Partnerships Manager
Downtown Tillamook was buzzing on Black Friday, and again on November 29th, as small businesses welcomed a steady stream of shoppers for the Tillamook Chamber’s annual Small Business Saturday event. From 10 am to 3 pm, the Chamber hosted a hot cocoa bar and raffles for participants who shopped downtown. For the past several years, shoppers have enjoyed an ornament hunt at participating businesses, receiving an ornament with each purchase, and this year, 15 locations joined in! Here is what some of our participants had to say:
At the Tillamook Coliseum Theatre, Sayde said they sold “enough gift cards for 117 movies,” a boost the owner described as especially meaningful during the final weeks of the year. “The cash-flow boost is helpful at the end of the year,” she said, noting that the event has remained “one of my favorite days of the year since I worked at the Chamber.” Madeline’s also saw ornaments fly off the counter almost immediately. With demand so high, staff quickly pivoted, offering a gift-with-purchase for the rest of their shoppers. The team said it was a “successful day with lots of locals that supported the store,” a reminder of the loyalty that keeps Tillamook’s small businesses thriving. Kimmels reported all ornaments were handed out as well, and staff proudly shared that “Packsaddle pellets are in!” — another reason customers had been eager to stop by. The Tillamook Feed Store summed up the sentiment felt by many participating shops: “The ornaments went quickly, and it was a fun day!”. We would like to thank everyone who participated in the ornament hunt, including: Country Squire, Janes Fabric, Jeannie’s Salon, Kit and Caboodle, Lucky Bear, Nappa, ReCurrent, Sugar + Air, Sunflower Flats, Sweet Begonia’s, and West Elliott.
As noted in a recent Headlight Herald article, downtown events have increasingly become Tillamook’s new “anchor”, drawing people into the heart of town and strengthening the economic ecosystem around local businesses. This year’s Small Business Saturday proved that point once again, demonstrating how community-centered gatherings create both meaningful experiences and real economic impact for the businesses that define Tillamook’s character. If you missed out this year, you can continue to shop local every day, but be sure to mark your calendars for next year’s Small Business Saturday, November 28th, 2026 for a dedicated day of local shopping!