Saturday Shopping On Main a Hit and Miss Experience

With 21 days left to shop for Christmas, what was business like on Saturday, Dec. 4 on Main Street? Depending on who you spoke with, business was great. Business was terrible. Business was pretty much the same.

"People came in looking for ideas," said Char West, owner of . "I think most of them will come back. I get the feeling a lot of people are starting to check downtown first when they shop. We've had a lot of comments about how surprised they are by the variety of stores down here."

Danny White, owner of , said Saturday was "the best I've seen in months," in terms of sales.

For Pandora's Box, a store that specializes in items from Turkey, including hookahs, belly dancing outfits and jewelry, things were a little slow on Saturday, despite the crowd across the street gathered for Snow Park and Santa's House.

"We're trying to figure out how to capture those people at Snow Park," said owner Michelle Sohl. "A lot of people are here with their kids, and probably don't want to come in here with them."

She said the Sunday Farmers Market is very helpful to her business, and supports the notion of a year-round market.

Roberta Bracey was purchasing an amber pendant in , an antique store. 

"I shop downtown once a month," she said. The Martinez resident does not live downtown, but enjoys the atmosphere.

"I like the friendliness. It feels comfortable, and eclectic," she said. "I love going to the Marina and walking there."

"I've sold no books so far today," said Sheila Grilli, owner of  on Ferry St. "It's been very slow, but we're not on the main drag, so events on Main Street don't bring in a lot of people. We did very well yesterday, though."

"Tuesday was bad, Wednesday was very good," said Patty Hector of on Ferry St. "It's tough down here. I had a total of ten sales in November."

Sonya Snavely of  said business on Saturday was "great."

"Every time there is a kids' activity down here, I do very well," she said. "I got at least ten families who live in Martinez and came downtown for the very first time. We need more of that."

"This is the first time I've been down here in about a year," said Amy Wasser, a Martinez resident. "I came down for the Snow Park. But I like all the antique stores. This is a great town. I wish there were more things to buy down here."

"We're surviving. It's hit or miss," said Suzie Northrop of . "It's a hard time of year right now. Once people find us, once they find downtown, they realize there is a lot down here, and not just antique stores. But getting that word out there is difficult."

"Last Saturday was great, this Saturday not so great so far," said Anne Mobley of . "I don't know that things like Snow Park do that much for us, in particular. We're pretty far from that action."