Several small businesses are still struggling after Helene, and aim to welcome shoppers during the holiday season.
BOONE, N.C. — This Black Friday, small businesses in western North Carolina are pushing for extra support after still recovering from Helene.
“Shop Local” will have a different ring to it for business owners in Boone. They hope shoppers take advantage of their deals.
On the outside it may just look like a small business, but inside it’s Boone’s lifeline. Kendra Sink, the general manager for Mast General Store in Boone, hopes for success on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday.
“Honestly, it couldn’t have come at a worse time,” she said, referring to the storm.
But even after the storm, there’s hope.
“It feels like for the first time, we’re back,” she said.
Economists estimate that small businesses hurt by Helene could recover up to 40% of what was lost. Mast General is thinking outside the …