While the Black Friday shopping extravaganza, largely but not totally confined to “big box” stores, is a heady experience for some, others prefer to do their business with an eye toward Main Street.

Well, not just Main Street, but local. A favorite merchant for that special gift may be the retailer selling eclectic goodies at space in a former textile mill, in an independent toy store on Route 1, or in a small strip mall in an inland town.

Or they could indeed be on Main Street, selling Maine jewelry, soaps, pottery or knitted hats and gloves. They could be across the street selling stoves, refrigerators and dryers at the appliance store that has been around for 47 years, where everyone who goes there knows the owner’s name is Don.

Wherever they are, they’re the local merchants. And Nov. 27 marked the nation’s first Small Business Saturday. In Saco and in Biddeford, Small Business Saturday coincides with the cities’ Buy Local campaign.

Deb Georgitis, a member of the Stone Soup Artisans co-op and the Buy Local Steering Committee, on Saturday said the store, around since 1990, has been busy. And she said people seem to be taking to the buy local theme.

“A lot more people are thinking more about their purchases. And we’re seeing more foot traffic,” said Georgitis. “It hits three levels: Quality, price and supporting local people.”

Stone Soup consists of about 50 artisans. Everyone who offers merchandise in the Main Street store must be a Maine resident, and most are from southern Maine, said Georgitis.

For Debbie Hayes, who summers in Old Orchard Beach and winters in Arlington, Mass., shopping locally has been the norm for the past few years. Visiting her summer home this weekend, Hayes took the opportunity to do a little shopping at Stone Soup.

“I’d rather shop these (retailers) than the outlets,” she said, eyeing a bright fleece children’s coat and hood.

Small Business Saturday is supported nationally by nearly two dozen entities and corporations ”“ American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center, Facebook and The National Association of Women Business Owners, to name a few. According to information on the Small Business Saturday website, for every $100 spent at a local small business, $68 returns to the community.

In York County, some merchants said they had heard about Small Business Saturday just a day or two before the event, and said they’d be better prepared with promotions next Christmas season.

Still, there were shoppers, many familiar either with the Small Business Saturday event, wedged between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, or a buy local effort in Saco and Biddeford or elsewhere.

Greg Inzerillo, who was raised in Kennebunk and was here visiting family from his home in Medford, Mass., was buying a gift at Kennebunk Toy Co.

“I’ve been doing (shopping) for that reason,” he said of Small Business Saturday. First came a family lunch at a local restaurant in Ogunquit, then a bit of shopping.

“The economy is still rough, but those who shop here say they’d rather shop here than the big box stores,” said Kennebunk Toy Co. manager Joanne McGee.

At North Dam Mill in Biddeford, interior designer Julie Brown-Zinchuk of Scarborough recently moved The Studio Shop, where she sells handmade and vintage items, from a basement location to the main floor and is an enthusiastic supporter of Small Business Saturday. Business, she said, is already picking up.

Don Fleurant, co-owner of Vic’s Appliance in Saco, said the store, begun by his father in 1963, has been extremely busy. Black Friday was a good day, he said, and while Small Business Saturday still needs time to catch on, the store was busy up to the 1 p.m. closing time that day.

Madeleine Langley of Dayton, buying a dryer and a stove, said Vic Fleurant used to work for her father’s dry-cleaning  business and opened the appliance store several years later.

“I promised I’d always buy my appliances here and I always have,” said Langley.

In Sanford, Glenn and Denise Dowey opened Treasures at Country Place just four weeks ago, offering a wide array of Christmas-themed items, jewelry, candles, baby items, children’s books and a host of gift items.

Business has been brisk, and Dowey said he’s heard shoppers say “they’re tired of being pushed around in the malls,” signaling a return to local retailers.

Shopper Angie Goyette said she’d never think of driving to Portland to shop.

“I shop locally or go without,” she said.

— Contact Staff Writer Tammy Wells at 324-4444 or at twells@journaltribune.com.