There aren't any hard numbers available yet, but Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen says local merchants he has spoken with are happy about how the Christmas shopping season has started out in 2016.

The mayor says from what he has seen "local parking lots are jammed and stores are full " with holiday shoppers. He says merchants he has spoken with "are pretty happy and pleased with what has taken place so far," including  Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving which is widely considered the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season.

The mayor says that likewise Cheyenne small business owners he has spoken with were pleased with the local turnout for Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26, although again there are no hard numbers available yet in terms of local sales tax collections or other indicators of business activity on that day.

Kaysen also took the opportunity to ask people to shop locally as much as possible, saying "it may sound selfish but let's keep those dollars churning right here in Cheyenne."

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