Great Barrington — The recently formed Great Barrington Business Alliance (GBBA) is kicking off the holiday season with two events designed to celebrate—and strengthen—our local community: Late Night Local on Thursday, December 11, until 8 p.m., and the Great Gingerbread Walk from Saturday, December 13, to Thursday, January 1.
Donna Norman, owner of Calyx Berkshire Dispensary and founder of GBBA, gave a presentation to 30 downtown business owners in late August, inviting them to join the alliance. She assured them, “This alliance is about multiplying our efforts, not draining them. If we work together—even just a little—we can create the kind of energy downtown that none of us could pull off alone. And I promise: It’ll be fun, creative, and worth your time.”
Of the 30 businesses represented at the meeting, nearly all joined Calyx in the non-political, community-focused alliance (including Berkshire Humane Society, Bernay Fine Art, Better Yoga, Carrie Chen Gallery, Dead River Oil Company, Domaney’s Liquors, East Rock Inn, E. Caligari & Sons, Feel Good Haus, Fluff Alpaca, Fuel Coffee, Great Barrington Bagel, Hart GB, Home Love, Juju’s, JWS Art Supplies, Karen Allen Fiber Arts, Marketplace Kitchen, Mooncloud, People’s Pantry, Railroad Street Collective, Rob’s Records, The Elm, The Oakdale Foundation, The Well, Tom’s Toys, Ward’s Nursery, and WSBS). Of those, a majority are taking part in the upcoming events. Norman noted, “This is about flexible involvement and a shared commitment to community—a grassroots group made by business owners, for business owners.”
Being involved in the Berkshire community is important to Norman—as demonstrated in her leadership and actions since opening her retail store on Main Street five years ago. “With the ease of online shopping, it’s harder than ever for small brick-and-mortar businesses to survive. Without community engagement, Main Street cannot thrive, and if we lose our Main Street, we lose the heart of our town,” she warned.
Late Night Local is the first of many events the alliance plans to bring to Great Barrington to help keep the downtown vibrant, welcoming, and alive. “This event was created in response to something we’ve heard from many neighbors: the belief that downtown shops ‘only’ cater to tourists,” Norman explained. “Staying open till 8 p.m. is our way of saying clearly and wholeheartedly that we care about our local community and want our residents to feel seen, valued, and supported (especially those who work during normal shopping hours). We hope residents will come out, shop small, and connect with the businesses that are part of the fabric of this town,” she added, stressing that businesses will be offering a “festive shopping experience” (drinks, discounts, and music).
“Alongside this event, we’re thrilled to host the Great Gingerbread Walk—a sweet, family-friendly celebration taking place downtown throughout the holiday season,” she continued. “Local businesses will display creative gingerbread houses in their storefronts, encouraging visitors to stroll, vote, and enjoy the magic of the season.” They will also be raffling off prizes.
Rachel Kalin, executive director of the Oakdale Foundation, reached out to Norman to thank her for creating the event. “Our residents were so excited to create their gingerbread house. It’s been such a fun group project—and a great way for them to be a part of the community,” she shared. The fact that shoppers can vote for their favorite gingerbread house through January 1 invites the non-business community into the fun as well.
Both events share a single goal, according to Norman: “Bringing people together and investing in the community we love.” The Great Barrington Business Alliance exists, she reiterated, “to create strategic, low-cost, high-impact programs tailored to our seasonal flow; cross-promotion between businesses to encourage spending at multiple locations; and a strong social media push to highlight what makes our downtown unique. It’s a real alliance where local businesses can share ideas, pool small resources for big impact, and advocate together for their shared needs.”
To show your support, come to downtown Great Barrington this Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. While you are shopping, be sure to admire the gingerbread creations and vote for your favorite one!
