Small businesses, and shoppers, return to holiday markets

By MAE ANDERSON
AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — On a recent evening in early November shoppers at the Bryant Park holiday market in New York City were in the holiday spirit well before Black Friday. The scent of pine wafted from candle sellers’ booths, people snapped up gingerbread cookies and hot cider and ice skaters swirled figure eights around the rink in the center of the market. After two years of pandemic holidays when people spent more dollars online, shoppers are back in force in stores and at holiday markets. Small businesses say it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, both emotionally and financially.