Consumers found their holiday spirit early, hitting spending records on Thanksgiving weekend, and the National Retail Federation predicts sales will rise to $957.3 billion.
As online shopping sales continued to climb, 206 million people shopped in-person at department stores, boutiques, and other retailers on Thanksgiving weekend. The surge could provide comfort and joy to small businesses, more than half of which derive at least 25% of their revenue from holiday shopping. 
That adds some sparkle this month to the Lehigh Valley economy. While retailers and restaurants aren’t the community’s biggest employers, those establishments shape the Lehigh Valley’s character and position it as an attractive place to live, work, and do business.
Here is a data snapshot of the businesses making the Lehigh Valley merry and bright this holiday season:
Restaurants
The Lehigh Valley is home to renowned chefs cooking up feasts in restaurants with a variety of ambiences. The dining scene ranges from trendy, downtown restaurants like Three OAK Steakhouse in Easton and the Bayou: Southern Kitchen & Bar in Bethlehem, to the farm-to-table elegance of Bolete, located in a restored 1740s stagecoach inn in Salisbury Township. Just as much of an experience is casual dining, from Hanoverville Roadhouse, which was featured on America’s Best Restaurants Roadshow, to Pen Argyl’s Moonlight Pizza, which got a rave review on the viral “One Bite” Barstool Sports series.
Locations: 1,176
Employment: 17,831
Coffee Shops and Bakeries (and other Snack Shops)
After an afternoon of holiday shopping, perk up at the many coffeehouses and bakeries in the region. From the local roasts served at Lit in Bethlehem to the “tomato pie” at Easton Baking Co., the Lehigh Valley has latte selections that will melt with everyone’s tastes.
Locations: 164
Employment: 1,755
Bars
From the famous Mug Club! at The Tavern on Liberty in Allentown to the McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub and Whiskey Bar in Bethlehem, the Lehigh Valley’s bars and taverns boast a large swath of libations in a variety of ambiences.
Locations: 65
Employment 665
Grocery stores
Planning a holiday gathering? From specialty food shops like Stravino’s Italian Market in Whitehall to larger supermarkets like Giant Food Stores, Lehigh Valley’s grocers offer an array of food to create a feast fitting for the season.
Locations: 317
Employment: 8,783
Department Stores
Reminiscent of holidays of yore, department stores are at the heart of holiday classics like “Miracle on 34th Street” where Macy’s was just as big of a character as any actor. While department stores have evolved a great deal since then, the Lehigh Valley is still home to national giants like Macy’s and regional powerhouses like Boscov’s in malls wrapped around the Lehigh Valley. Today’s general merchandise stores also include discounters from Walmart to Sam’s Club.
Locations: 123
Employment: 5,367
Toys, Jewelry, Clothes & More
From Super Mario to Barbie, Lehigh Valley’s specialty shops carry today’s hottest gifts alongside some unique finds. There’s an array of retailers that specialize in toys, games, jewelry, clothes, and sporting goods. From Purr Haus in Emmaus to Easton Outdoor Co. in Easton, there’s a specialty shop that has not just the goods – but the expert advice to make the right purchase.
Locations: 552
Employment: 4,811
Concerts, Shows, Sports & More
PPL Center in Allentown. ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem. State Theatre in Easton. Those are just some of the Lehigh Valley’s large venues where folks can go see a Broadway-quality production, their favorite band, or local sports team. The holiday season started off in November with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s performance at PPL Center. Upcoming holiday events include Straight No Chaser at the State Theatre, and the internationally recognized Christkindmarkt in Bethlehem.
Locations: 75
Employment: 1,135
(Source: Chmura Economics JobsEQ. Employment is a four-quarter moving average from the latest available date)