With Small Business Saturday upcoming this weekend, Main Street Roanoke Rapids is holding a weekly $100 prize drawing through December 19.

And while Main Street is holding the Elfie Selfie incentive, Red Rabbit Coffee, which holds a crafting vendor market each Saturday, will have its food truck open at its Tenth Street location until 7 p.m. for Small Business Saturday.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our community and we need them to keep Roanoke Rapids strong,” Main Street Development Director Christina Caudle said today. “For every $100 spent with a local business, $68 stays in our local economy. Only $43 stays here from a national chain and it’s even less when you buy online.”

Caudle said locally owned and operated businesses are 250 percent more likely to sponsor a youth sports team, donate to a local non-profit or volunteer at a local charity compared to a national chain. “We need them here, but their success depends on our support. Unfortunately, 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in very challenging times and our local shops and restaurants need us now more than ever. So, remember to put your money where you live and buy local. Your support will make all the difference for our small businesses as we head into 2021.”

Elfie Selfies

One elf will be at one location and the other will be at a different participating business. Once an elf is found the shopper has to take a selfie with it.

Location clues will be posted on Main Street’s Facebook page

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When one is located take a selfie, post it to Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #RRElfieSelfie and tag Main Street by using @MainStreetRoanokeRapids.

Every selfie is a chance to win and a bonus contest entry can be earned if your selfie includes a proof of purchase such as a receipt, shopping bags or a restaurant take-out box.

The $100 weekly prize is a gift certificate to one Main Street Roanoke Rapids locally-owned business of the winner’s choice.

Red Rabbit Coffee Truck 

Stephanie Benner, owner of the business, has set up a semi-permanent location in the parking lot at 1602 East Tenth Street, the former location of Marina’s Italian Restaurant.

The company is utilizing the patio area and has invited other local food trucks to join them throughout the week without fee. 

Red Rabbit has also set up a local crafting vendor’s market each Saturday, allowing local artisans and educational vendors to display their creations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

There’s no vendor fee for setting up, but permission must be obtained before you’re allowed to set up.  

Masks are required for all vendors and sanitizer is available at all their booths. 

Social Distancing measures are greatly encouraged.  

Vendors interested in participating should call 252-578-2249.

“We feel it is important to give back to the community that supports us, and one way to do that is to give local vendors access to our patio location,” Brenner said. “They come from all over the Halifax and Northampton county areas, and this gives them a space to access the local markets, and we don’t charge anything for setting up either, which is a huge bonus for them over the holiday season.”

For Small Business Saturday Red Rabbit will be at the location serving beverages until 7 p.m.

Jason Wright of Red Rabbit Coffee capitalized on what he described as the unique opportunity to use the “woefully underutilized” lot where the coffee truck is now situated. 

He spoke with the owners of Becker Village Mall and obtained their permission to locate there. “They graciously agreed and the location was a success for the small business.”

Wright also saw the location could be a success for other small business owners. Local food trucks have seen success at the location, he said. “Most of these artisans have no physical location to sell their goods, so it has been the key to helping with exposure as well as sales.”