TAMPA -- Small business owners hope you'll "shop small" Saturday and help them make up for losses

during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tampa congresswoman Kathy Castor held a virtual event with small businesses in her town... saying they make up

a bigger portion of the economy than in other places

Felicia LaCalle runs Tampa's "Kuba Cocina" restaurant at Armature Works. She says the pandemic forced her

to abandon plans to expand to Atlanta... but she decided insteadto open a second location on St. Pete Beach.

Troy Manthey runs Pirate Water Taxi and Yacht Starship,

which operate on Tampa's waterfront. He says the Federal Paycheck

Protection Program was a lifesaver.

Stores in Tampa's Seminole Heights neighborhood are holding a "Shop Hop"

event from 10 am to 6 pm at Far Forest on 6611 N. Nebraska Avenue, with

maskwearing and social distancing.

Photo: Getty Images

Todd Schnitt

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