(SYRACUSE, N.Y.) – The holidays for many people means family, friends, and food. But for small business owners right now, this busy time of year means more work and higher cost. Nino’s Italian Bakery in Syracuse has been open for nearly 20 years. Owner Nicholas Wallon said he has the community of Syracuse to thank.
“The people still come out and support us which is really nice. We just have a great clientele and a lot of people that still come out to see and we get new customers all the time,” Wallon said.
And many of those new faces are college students. ESF students Olivia Heilbroner and Nick Sisti stopped in late Thursday night for some much needed sweets.
“He showed me this place a couple weeks ago and it’s amazing and it finals next week so we wanted to decompress and getting a couple cookies is a great way to do that,” Heilbroner said.
The holidays are a busy time for many small business owners. Nino’s alone is expected to make more than 50,000 pounds of cookies this holiday season.
Sarah Russo: COOKIES. THEY MIGHT NOT BE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED TREAT, BUT FOR ONE LOCAL BAKERY, THEY’RE LIKE GOLD. NINO’S ITALIAN BAKERY IN SYRACUSE HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS SELLING EVERYTHING FROM BREADS TO CAKES TO COOKIES. AND THEIR SECRET TO SUCCESS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?
Nicholas: The people still come out and support us which is really nice. We just have a great clientele and a lot of people that still come out to see and we get new customers all the time”
Russo: AND MANY OF THOSE NEW CUSTOMERS ARE COLLEGE STUDENTS. E-S-F STUDENTS OLIVIA AND NICK STOPPED IN FOR A TREAT DURING A USUALLY STRESSFUL TIME IN THE SEMESTER.
Olivia: He showed me this place a couple weeks ago and it’s amazing and it finals next week so we wanted to decompress and getting a couple cookies is a great way to do that”)
RUSSO: AND WITH THE HOLIDAYS COMING UP IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS. LIKE HERE AT NINO’S ITALIAN BAKERY…
DURING COVID AND THOUGH INFLATION, SMALL BUSINESSES EITHER HAVE TO CLOSE SHOP OR INCREASE PRICES.BUT CUSTOMER NICK SISTI SAYS THERE’S SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE NINO’S THAT MAKES IT WORTH IT…
Nick: It’s really difficult to find these small family owned places like this that are traditional and use recipes like this and you’re not gonna find that at any big box store and I think it’s really important to support that
Russo: AND THE HOLIDAYS ARE THE BUSIEST TIME FOR MANY SMALL BUSINESS. NINO’S IS EXPECTED TO MAKE MORE THAN 50 THOUSAND POUNDS OF COOKIES.
BUT THERE’S PLENTY OF OTHER SMALL BUSINESS ACROSS SYRACUSE AND CENTRAL NEW YORK TO SUPPORT NOT JUST DURING THE HOLIDAYS…
IN SYRACUSE SARAH RUSSO NCC NEWS.
