Retailers looking for sales to pick up Retailers looking for sales to pick up (December 10, 2004)

Businesses remain optimistic during holiday season

By Julie O'Shea

While Mountain View retailers aren't sounding overly excited about this year's holiday season, they remain optimistic that they will still see some stellar sale figures when it's over.

Hoping to jump-start a mid-December shopping spree, some downtown businesses are hosting an open house this week. And participating stores plan to donate some of their Dec. 9 sale proceeds to Second Harvest Food Bank.

The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce is also reminding residents to shop locally.

"We want to continue to get that message out during this season in particular," Chamber President Carol Olson said. "Mountain View has all their holiday needs from toys to decorations to turkeys."

With the economy still in a lurch, "staying optimistic" seems to be a key term around the business community.

Nick Chaput, owner of the Dana Street Roasting Company and president of the Central Business Association, said he's having a hard time gauging how bad or good things are from a retailer's standpoint.

"No one's going out beating the drum, but many of them are optimistic," Chaput said.

Chaput said lately he's been seeing more foot traffic in downtown Mountain View. "We are excited about that," he said. "It's the place for retail of the future."

One of the region's main concerns is jobs, said Michael Couch, who oversees the San Antonio Shopping Center. And without jobs, not many people are in the mood for shopping.

Regardless of the job slump, though, Couch said many of the center's anchor businesses, like Wal-Mart and Trader Joe's, are doing well.

"I think we will have a good Christmas, but I don't think it is going to be a banner year," Couch said.

Karen Cabello, the executive director of the Central Business Association, said, "I do believe this is going to be a better year (than last year). All indications show that people are buying early."

Still, Cabello conceded, it depends on whom you ask.

"I certainly have high hopes for this season," said Mary de la Vega, who owns La Petite Chaise on Castro Street. But downtown "seems to be a little bit quieter than it used to be.

"It would be nice to see more retail in Mountain View, smaller specialty stores," de la Vega said.

In an effort to try and draw in more business, de la Vega helped organize the open house for Dec. 9. Participating stores will donate 10 percent of sales made between 5 to 9 p.m. that day to the Second Harvest Food Bank, de la Vega said.

This is the second year in a row that she has hosted the charity drive. Last year's food barrel was "overflowing," according to de la Vega, who hopes this year's drive will be just as successful.

The chamber's Olson said the city's nonprofits have been reporting a good turnout in giving and volunteerism this holiday season.

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

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