Local businesses finally feel ‘normalcy’ as shoppers fill Portland’s Old Port [Video]

Locals are tourists alike were spotted flocking to support small businesses in the holiday rush.

PORTLAND, Maine — Chilly weekend temperatures in Portland didn’t keep shoppers from hitting the streets for last-minute gifts. Crowds were spotted braving the cold in the Old Port, visiting small businesses and checking off their holiday shopping lists.

At Local Color, sales associate Janice Sears noted the diversity of shoppers.

“There was just somebody in here from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, California,” she said.

Locals and tourists alike were drawn to the shop’s handmade gifts, from stocking stuffers to centerpiece-worthy serving platters.

It’s been a challenging few years for small businesses, with the pandemic bringing in-person shopping to a standstill. But this holiday season is showing signs of a strong recovery.

“Last year, I think people were still just coming out, tiptoeing a bit,” Sears added. “This year, even as late as a couple of days …