Elves at the North Pole aren’t the only ones staying busy in anticipation of the 2024 holiday season.

Dubuque Main Street Ltd. is a 501c3 community agency that was founded in the late 1980s and works to support downtown Dubuque businesses through a variety of tools, promotion and development approaches. The organization supports businesses through grant programs, special events, partnerships, a yearly award program and more.

BizTimes got in contact with a variety of member businesses to see what the 2024 holiday season holds in store.

Read on to find out what some of Dubuque’s most nimble businesses are working on for what is the busiest part of the year for any small business.

The Calico Bean Market

The Calico Bean Market, 352 Bluff St., is gearing up for the holidays by relying on a unique assortment of food products that are hard to find in the Dubuque area.

“Our peanut butter is always our best-seller,” said owner Teri Connely. “We usually have (a variety of) pretzels. Our coffee is also extremely popular.”

The peanut butter is made by staff fresh to order and comes in unusual flavors such as honey, butterscotch, dark chocolate, Scotch-a-Roo and cashew. Around the holidays, balsamic vinaigrette that is aged up to 25 years and olive oil are hot items.

The store also offers corporate gift bags that employers can give to employees.

Coffee is roasted in house and Jumble, a local coffee brand, is also on sale.

Connely does not offer a holiday sale, but tries to keep prices as low as possible. She anticipates a spike in price for some candy and treat options this season because “the prices of chocolate have gone through the roof right now.”

Connely got the idea for her market after running into Dubuque people at a similar store about an hour away from the city. She credits her loyal customers for her ability to stay in business for 17 years. She is a die-hard small business supporter herself.

“I’m the epitome of try to buy it small,” she said. “If it costs $10 more, I’m still going to buy it small and use cash. Credit card fees kill us.”

For more information, visit www. calicobeanmarket.com.

Sorpresa Gelato, Chocolate and Gifts

Sorpresa Gelato, Chocolate and Gifts, 269 Main St., has a business name that literally means “surprise” in Italian. So those who visit should be ready for anything. The shop sells a large variety of gelatos made in-house.

This cold treat is similar to ice cream, but with a different texture and lower fat. There is also sorbetto, a fruit-based, dairy-free version. Belgium-style chocolates made by Stam, a Des Moines-based company, also are a holiday favorite. Shirts, towels and an eclectic mix of other gifts are also for sale.

“We try to focus on product lines that you don’t find anywhere else, but are also from small businesses,” said owner Jennifer McCoy.

McCoy’s family has owned the jewelry store on the same part of Main Street as Sorpresa for many years. As a result, she knows firsthand that the value of these small enterprises stretches far beyond a balance sheet.

“It gives a community its uniqueness,” McCoy said. “They are the ones contributing to nonprofits. They bring tourists to Main Street (and other downtown areas).”

For more information, visit thesorpresagifts.com.

River Lights Bookstore

River Lights Book Store, 1098 Main St., has a holiday open house on the second Saturday in November each year. Seasonal decorations are unveiled and a variety of specials are offered to customers, including a 25% discount off books in the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association catalog.

The store, which has been in business for more than three decades, also celebrates Small Business Saturday, which is Nov. 30 this year, by offering other deals.

“If you spend $100, you get a $10 coupon,” said manager Angela Kircher. “If you spend $200, you get a $25 coupon.”

River Lights recently expanded store hours to being open until 8 p.m. every day except Sunday in order to make it easier for holiday shoppers. The staff also helps people order books that are not in stock on the shelves. Customers can pick up their orders in the store.

“I’m surprised and delighted by how many people don’t want to shop online,” Kircher said.

Best-selling adult books are popular gifts during the holiday season, as are children’s picture books.

“I think we learned what spending local does during COVID,” Kircher said. “Shopping local means keeping your community viable. A small business is also somebody’s dream. I’m sure at some point Target was somebody’s dream too, but it doesn’t feel like it when you go in there.”

Kircher encourages folks to shop directly from small business websites like River Lights’ own, but she also advocates strongly for visits to brick-and-mortar locations.

“Keeping that historical element in your community attracts people to your town,” she said.

For more information, visit riverlights.com.

Wags 2 Wiggles

Wags 2 Wiggles, 1838 Central Ave., is a festive and furry place during the holidays. Aside from its normal grooming and other services, the business offers some unique seasonal options. Sometimes dogs’ hair is dyed red and green at owners’ requests. There are also holiday-themed photo shoots available during Christmas time.

The Wags 2 Wiggles team says they are proud to have been part of efforts to revitalize business life in their part of town. The operation aims to cater to animals’ needs in a compassionate way, according to owner Kellie Droessler. Kennels are larger than usual and have other features meant to increase pets’ comfort. The establishment is willing to accept grooming candidates with behavior or age issues.

“We do a lot of dogs that no one else will do,” Droessler said.

Exceptional customer service like this is what separates most small businesses from large competitors, according to the entrepreneur, she said.

“You’re not going to get that personalized care” at big chain pet companies, Droessler said.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/Wags2Wiggles.

Devour Cafe

Devour Cafe, 1798 Central Ave., serves locally roasted coffee using beans from across the globe. Homemade food is also sold, including pastries that would make a nice addition to any holiday table spread. Located in a historic downtown building, the space that holds the cafe itself was renovated by owner Ryan Dies.

“The drinks — that is our forte,” Dies said in a Telegraph Herald interview. “I have over 20 years of coffee experience so roasting my own coffee and using grade 1 Arabica coffee direct trade from small farms around the world puts us in the higher echelon of coffee quality.”

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/devourdubuque.

Outside the Lines Art Gallery

Outside the Lines Art Gallery, 1101 Main St., (as well as a Galena, Ill., location at 101 S. Main St.) plans to hold an artist-led beading demo on the first Friday in December as part of its holiday offerings. Artist Lizbeth Doran will have a trunk show and there will be cookies and refreshments, according to owner Stormy Mochal.

For the season, the gallery usually decorates windows and other areas. The gallery also promotes Small Business Saturday. The staff caters to shoppers who want holiday gifts, as well.

Recently, coin banks made from reclaimed wood doors of old post office boxes have been popular for children, Mochal said.

Another artist featured in the gallery makes unique wooden trees. The red and green variety are in demand for the holidays. Handmade Christmas ornaments are good sellers, but sometimes customers go for bigger items.

“We’ll sell a painting as a type of heirloom gift,” Mochal said.

By supporting a local gallery, customers are sustaining multiple employees and the artists. Unlike most large retailers, everything in Outside the Lines is made in the U.S. The holiday rush is an important reason why the gallery has thrived for more than two decades.

“We know when you shop local (more than) 60 cents of every dollar stays in the community,” Mochal said. “When you shop in a box store, (that’s not the case). December, for small business, is the busiest month of the year and that sustains you for slow times in February and March.”

For more information, visit shopotlag.com.

Jubeck New World Brewing

Jubeck New World Brewing, 115 W. 11th St., decorates to the hilt for Christmas, with a Christmas tree as a central element. The night before Thanksgiving, musician Marques Morel is scheduled to play live.

On Small Business Saturday, the Schniklefritz Band will take the stage.

“It’s a group of band teachers from the area,” said owner Jay Jubeck.

Jubeck himself will take the stage with the Jubeck Family Band on Friday, Dec. 20, to lead a sing-along of old time Christmas songs.

“I think (small business) earning has a lot of dependence on the holiday end of the year push,” Jubeck said. “For us, it’s no different. One of the things for us has been our membership sales. We do a lot (to promote them) towards the holidays. Some people give them as gifts.”

Brewery themed T-shirts, mugs and glassware are also popular.

For more information, visit www.jubeckbrewing.com.

Gary Dolphin’s Iron Bar

Gary Dolphin’s Iron Bar, 333 E. 10th St., serves specialty cocktails that are red and green during the holidays. There also is a winter-themed drink that is blue as well as hot apple cider — a popular addition to the menu.

During the season, the bar facilitates corporate and private holiday parties as well as providing a venue for friends to catch up. And it’s not that uncommon for sports announcer and co-owner Gary Dolphin to show up and greet customers, especially around the holiday season.

General manager Garrett Uhlik said support around the holiday season is essential to small businesses and the people who work for them.

“We all have families too,” Uhlik said. “(Supporting small business) keeps the money in the same town.”

For more information, visit garydolphins.com.

Midwest Girl

The Midwest Girl, 898 Jackson St., is a local clothing brand that celebrates Midwest girls and their stories through goods and apparel. T-shirts, hats and mugs are among the offerings at the shop and online store owned by sisters Marissa Droessler and Sarah Odgers.

The shop is hosting a holiday evening from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. The company will release its annual holiday tees in store that night with a social gathering to follow at EJ’s Wine Bar.

“There is nothing like gifting from a small business,” Hoffman said. “Knowing the money you spent has a much larger footprint than it may even seem. Small businesses employ your friends, family and donate back to the community every chance they can. If you know our brand, you know this to be true about us. We donate to our local schools, nonprofits and host our own fundraiser every April to give back to families in our community impacted by cancer.”

The Midwest Girl pours everything into community, connection and quality, according to Droessler.

“We would love to be a part of your holiday shopping this year and for many years to come,” she said.

For more information, visit shopthemidwestgirl.com.