When President Obama and his daughters visited a popular independent bookstore in Washington, D.C. Saturday, they weren't just taking care of some holiday shopping. They were also promoting Small Business Saturday, a federal initiative that aims to celebrate and support small businesses.
Wearing jeans and a brown leather jacket, the president and daughters Sasha and Malia chatted with other shoppers at Politics & Prose on Connecticut Avenue. Obama told reporters he had bought books for every age group -- including his own.
Politics & Prose, founded in 1984, is a fixture in Washington's literary world, and the store has hosted President Clinton and J.K. Rowling as speakers. Since 2011, it has been owned by Bradley Graham and his wife Lissa Muscatine, both former Washington Post reporters.
Small Business Saturday is intended to serve as a counterpoint to Black Friday, when many Americans flock to large retailers for post-Thanksgiving deals.