COLUMBIA, S.C. — In an era dominated by online shopping, many Columbia shoppers chose to spend Black Friday supporting local businesses in Five Points, and store owners say it was a successful day.

After a slow start early in the morning, foot traffic picked up throughout the day, bringing steady waves of customers into small shops offering in-store-only deals.

A Little Happy, one of the stores on Five Points participating in the Black Friday rush, offered exclusive discounts for shoppers who came in person.

“We just wanted to make sure that people were getting some kind of value shopping small, rather than just going to the big box stores,” said owner Ashley Lindler.

Shoppers said they appreciated the unique finds and hands-on experience that only in-person shopping can offer.

“We th

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