HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Well, if you're in the shopping spirit this week don't forget to shop local because it's national small business week. FOX54 visits a few small businesses in Huntsville.
Huntsville boutique owner Frida Morel is celebrating her fifth year as a small business owner of Silhouette. "The small businesses are the heart and soul of downtown. I do have casual clothes. I also have a lot of prom dresses, I have wedding guest dresses, I have vintage style dresses. I have people that walked in and said, I think I've just died and gone to heaven. It's just it's like, you know, they they walk in and they take a minute and they breathe it all in and said, this makes me so happy. And it also at that moment, it all makes me feel like they love this space as much as I do."
And this what ultimately inspired morel to start a business in the first place. "Being in control of my life inspired me to do this. I love being my own boss. I love setting my own hours. I love the freedom it allows me. If you believe if you have a dream and you believe in it, go for it."
Next, we headed to a British Style Pub on the square called The Poppy and Parliament. Executive Chef and Head Manager Kristen Caroselli said it's all about that pub feel. "We want you to feel like you're kind of stepping out of Huntsville. We do a lot of traditional English food, like fish and chips, bangers and mash. But then we kind of go off the beaten path with charcuterie, really upscale charcuterie."
Caroselli explained that it's the homey feeling that makes small businesses all the more worthwhile. "Small businesses are the best I think because you're really getting that homey vibe, right? You're meeting the people were here all the time myself, Dave, Shane, chef Barry and all of our employees, they we have a tight knit family here and we want to bring people into that family. we want the customers to feel like they're comfortable, like they're at home."