CINCINNATI —

Black Friday is still a few days away but the holiday shopping season is already in full swing.

With big brands pushing shoppers to move online, local business owners are encouraging people to shop small.

That includes shops and restaurants on Main Street and within Findlay Market. Many of them are extending shopping hours and adding extra experiences ahead of Small Business Saturday.

Local leaders said small businesses are the engine of the city’s economy.

“You’re not going to find national chains with headquarters off in some other corner of the country,” Cincinnati mayor Aftab Pureval said. “You’re going to find places that are owned and operated by your neighbors. Your dollars that you’re investing in your holiday gifts are going right back into the community.”

The director of the OTR Chamber of Commerce praised the diversity in the businesses around the area.

According to the director, 38 percent of businesses in the area are women-owned, 17 percent are Black-owned and 11 percent are LGBTQ-owned.