Open for business

Overcoming the challenges of Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath has fatigued many, but with Hanukkah and Christmas on the horizon, area residents may welcome the chance to shed some of that storm-weariness by getting out of the house and going shopping.

The Cedarhurst Business Improvement District is sponsoring a shopping extravaganza this weekend that includes a first-of-its-kind event for the BID. The village-supported organization will not only hold its third Black Friday event and Midnight Madness sale, but will combine the two on Friday and Saturday. Midnight Madness will take place from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday — which is also Small Business Saturday, a nationwide promotion of shopping at community businesses.

And the good times will roll into Sunday, with more than 80 stores and restaurants expected to take part in weekend sales, said Teri Schure, the BID’s executive director. Comprising landlords and business owners in the village, the BID funds a variety of improvements and events.

Schure said she knew the BID was on the right track with the event after she spoke to a board member of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce. “When I told her about the number of stores participating in the Midnight Madness event,” Schure said, “she was shocked, and wanted all the details to take back to her board.” Schure said the woman didn’t know of any other village or town that does anything similar to promote small business in their community.

Steve Silverman, who owns Morton’s, a sporting goods and clothing store, sees the event as a boon for both storeowners and customers. “It brings in a lot of people — the town is hopping with people,” he said. “The restaurants are busy and there are great deals. It’s a win-win. Customers love it, retailers love it.”

Silverman is hoping that the weekend will help him recoup some income he lost to Sandy. With a majority of Cedarhurst without power, he tried to work around the problem by powering his cash register and credit card machine with his car battery and using flashlights to navigate store aisles. “We worked from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” he said. “We had to do some business … no money was coming in.”