John Bendall owner of Re/Max Classic Group offers an alternative to the mall for your holiday shopping.

Small, individually owned businesses often have trouble keeping up with huge national chain stores.  During the holidays the competition for consumer dollars becomes even more fierce.  People do not necessarily flock to the local gift shop or hardware store to get the hottest items on their Holiday shopping list.  Instead they check the circulars in the weekly paper and hit the big box stores.  Small businesses on Main Streeti n Somerville have created an old fashioned shopping experience to attract holiday shoppers.

There are both positive and negative aspects of shopping the small businesses. You may not find the sales and bargains that the large stores offer, but you are more likely to find unique and meaningful gifts.  Another benefit of shopping smaller stores are less crowds and more personalized customer service.  Some people like the thrill of holiday shopping at the larger stores and malls, if that type of shopping adds to your holiday stress you may want to try the alternative shopping experience that Somerville and other towns offer in their main street areas.

Downtown Somerville will be hosting the following events as listed in The Courier News.

- Two Brothers Bagels, 53 W. Main St., will have "Breakfast with Santa" from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 8. Breakfast will feature $6 pancake or egg platter breakfasts, as well as free photos with Santa and balloon animals provided by Annie’s Balloon Affair in Somerville. For more information, call (908) 203-9900.

- Central Pizza, 122 W. Main St., will have "Lunch with Santa" from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 15.

-  The Somerville Business Association in conjunction with the Somerville District Management Corporation is sponsoring music weekends.

Scheduled to perform:

Dec. 1 — The Sweet Revivals from noon to 1 p.m.

Dec. 8 — The Dixie Mix and Raritan Valley Choral Society from 11 a.m. to noon.

Dec. 15 — Dixie Mix from 11 a.m. to noon, Somertones from noon to 1 p.m., Somerville High School Chorus from 1 to 2 p.m.

Dec. 23 — Somerville School of Music from 2 to 3 p.m.

- Commerce Bank, 50 W. Main St., is sponsoring free photos with Santa from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 8 and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 22.

-  Alpine by Design is holding The Senior Artists & Crafters store at 172 W. Main St. The Somerset County Senior Artists is a nonprofit group whose purpose is to promote the art of handcrafting as well as provide a community service. A portion of the proceeds will go to various area charities. The hours are: Dec. 8, 15 and 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Nov. 29 and Dec. 6, 13 and 20 from 5 to 8 p.m; Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 14 and 31 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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