Although Rugby businesses kicked off the Christmas shopping season the day after Halloween with their “Christmas in a Small Town” event, Black Friday and Small Business Saturday didn’t go unnoticed.

Jackie Albrect of Thrifty White Drug and Gift told the Tribune the store was busier than usual last Saturday.

“I noticed a big increase. We had quite a lot of people in here,” Albrect said.

Next door to Thrifty White Drug, Daunne Heilman of I Design agreed with Albrect.

“We had a wonderful Saturday. We got to see a lot of people, and it was fun. We had steady traffic all day,” said Heilman. “It was an awesome Saturday.”

Ashley Berg of Main Street Boutique described the weekend as “busier.” “To me, I feel like it’s the day after Black Friday, and part of the Christmas season, so it was a little bit busier,” Berg noted.

Did she think shoppers preferred staying in Rugby to traveling to bigger cities?

“Yes,” Berg said. “I personally don’t think people came out Saturday because it was Small Business Saturday; I think they came out because they were in town Saturday, and there were sales going on.”

Berg noted, “People were most interested in the sales.”

A few blocks down 2nd Avenue SE, Kayla Brase described Saturday as “busier than most Saturdays.”

At St. Michel Furniture, salesperson Mary Klein told the Tribune she noticed a busier-than-normal Friday, with customers preferring to stay in town.

“I feel like since they came in here, (staying in Rugby) was their intention. We had a good Friday,” Klein noted.

Cindy Brossart of Cindy’s Country Cupboard noticed more traffic in her store.

“Friday and Saturday (were busier), Brossart said. “I was here for Black Friday, and Small Business Saturday. Every event was very busy; even Christmas in a Small Town, because that was my re-grand opening, too, and Black Friday, that Saturday all were very busy.”

When asked if she thought people preferred to shop in Rugby, Brossart answered, “Some of them do appreciate that very much. Also, the smaller towns that are near us they really appreciate Rugby, too the different stores we have, so I heard comments about that, too.”