Small business owners in the Gaffer District are more than ready for this year's big holiday shopping weekend. Corning businesses have brought in extra products for the last couple of months and our Katie Husband tells us they plan on bringing more employees on board to help with the upcoming rush.

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CORNING, N.Y. -- It was a busy holiday shopping season last year in the Crystal City.

"This year, we're keeping our fingers crossed it's going to be the same," said Jill Agosta, Connors Mercantile Store Manager.

People came from all over to shop in the Historic Market Street stores for the infamous Black Friday and Small Business Saturday shopping days.

"We were so appreciative to all the people who came from Binghamton, Rochester, our local people came in. It was a huge weekend for us and we were so grateful," said Agosta.

To keep those customers coming back this weekend, business owners plan on catering to them and their shopping needs.

"Just taking care of our customers, having a great atmosphere in the store, the music, the smells, the chocolates. Everything we have going on we have to keep it interesting," said Agosta.

Keeping it interesting is what Mint Velvet owner Rochele Locey likes to do in her vintage antique shop to bring the customers support to Market Street rather than to the bigger department stores.

"Instead of buying from the Targets or the Walmarts, kind of bringing it local and getting to know the shop owners and really having a nice collaboration as a nice community," said Rochele Locey, Mint Velvet owner.

After weeks and even months of preparation small business owners are bringing more people on board to help them with the customer traffic and they say they're expecting more people to shop in the Gaffer District this year.

"And I think people are going to support the local people, the downtown merchants and I'm just gearing up for a busy, busy day," said Agosta.

The small shops say they won't open Thanksgiving night because they want to keep that holiday a 'family holiday.' But the lights will be on Black Friday morning.