Robert Menendez

Menendez Visits Hoboken to Promote Small Business Saturday

Senator comes to Big Fun Toys and neighboring Washington Street stores recovering from super storm Sandy

November 23, 2012

HOBOKEN – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez visited Big Fun Toys, one of the city’s many small businesses affected by super storm Sandy, to promote “Small Business Saturday” and supporting small business throughout New Jersey during the storm recovery. After some brief remarks, Senator Menendez also visited a few of the neighboring businesses on Washington Street.

In the U.S. Senate, Senator Menendez co-sponsored a resolution that designated tomorrow, November 24, as “Small Business Saturday.” One of the reasons Senator Menendez came to Hoboken today was to make the point that, in the aftermath of super-storm Sandy, supporting small businesses in communities throughout New Jersey has never been more important.

“Will Hoboken’s Washington Street keep its vibrancy and economic vitality in the aftermath of the super storm? That depends on all of us. The same can be said for small businesses in communities throughout New Jersey,” said Senator Menendez. “If it was ‘We, the people’ who were the beacons of hope during the cold darkness that immediately followed super storm Sandy, then it must be ‘we, the customers,’ who support our small businesses.  In doing so, we will help our communities meet their long-term recovery challenges.”

Senator Menendez also said that while he will be shopping at New Jersey’s small businesses during the holiday season, he will also be fighting in Washington for New Jersey’s recovery.

“When it comes to federal aid for New Jersey’s recovery from our recent natural disaster –whether it’s for our small businesses, our housing, our infrastructure, our shorelines – I will not relent in holding Congress and the Administration to our expectation that the United States of America will be there for New Jersey during our time of crisis,” Senator Menendez said.

“To be sure, federal aid will help, but small businesses cannot survive without increased consumer demand. So that is why it’s so important to remember small businesses – to keep it local, shop local, and increase consumer demand not only during the holiday season, but all year long.” 

The Senator was welcomed to the store by manager, Kathleen Childs, and the owner, Jenny Robertson. U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator Jorge Silva-Puras also participated.

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