A feature photo from the front page of the Review on Dec. 4, 2002 shows shoppers getting a jump on deals offered early in the holiday season at Walmart, 1300 Desplaines Ave.
The national economy that year was sluggish and small businesses on Madison, including Rosanne’s Hallmark, At Home Antiques, and Centuries & Sleuths bookstore were all hoping for strong support and a pick-up in business that year.
It would be another eight years before the boost from Small Business Saturday would be promoted by the credit-card company American Express to lift up small businesses after the Great Recession.
