Staff Writers
Against national trend, area shops report growth
Most retailers saw plenty
of shoppers during
holiday
and Sherry conohan
Staff Writers
Chris Kelly Rite Aid employee Shatika Wallace reorganizes the vast magazine rack at the store, located on Third and Morris avenues in Long Branch.
Despite a slowing economy nationally, business generally was bustling for stores in this area over the holidays.
"The holiday was excellent," reported Walter Burek, manager of Kmart on Route 36 at Monmouth Road in West Long Branch. He said he "absolutely" expected the good run of sales to continue in 2002.
Asked what the big selling items were, Burek said they were toys, Christmas decorations and wrappings, and home decor items.
"The same traditional stuff," he said.
Business also was doing very well at the Farm House on Broadway, also in West Long Branch, according to Kathy Levens, assistant to the owner.
The consignment shop just moved to its present location from Oceanport in October.
"People have bought for themselves and gift certificates," Levens said. "We’ve done better than last year because we have more space."
Levens said the store also has been helped by word-of-mouth reports.
"And being on a main street has helped," she noted.
At Monmouth Mall in Eatontown, Jason Skislak, assistant manager of Waldenbooks, said that store was "really busy — super busy" before Christmas, but that sales fell off immediately after Dec. 25.
What were the hot sellers?
"A lot of books relating to Sept. 11," Skislak said, referring to the terrorist attacks. "Harry Potter stuff was really big," he continued, "and J.R.R. Tolkien was big, because of the tie-in with the movies."
Skislak said other big sellers were books on local matters.
Radio Shack in the Consumer Centre on Route 36 in West Long Branch also enjoyed a good holiday season, boosting overall sales for the year.
"The first six months were slow," said Kory Mozee, the assistant manager, "but the last six were better, and it looks like we’re going to have a sales gain for the year."
Asked to what he would attribute the upturn in sales, particularly in light of showing a trend that runs counter to the circumstances nationally, he said, "I have no idea why."
But another electronics store didn’t fare as well. José Gomez, manager of Street Sounds and Security on Broadway in Long Branch, said business had been "pretty poor" over the holidays.
"I think it’s just a lot of problems going on with everybody," he said, citing the tragedy with the World Trade Center and troubles with the stock market.
The holiday spirit has been celebrated in robust fashion at Sallee Tee’s Grille on Channel Drive in Monmouth Beach. Sal Tringola, proprietor of the popular eatery, said it was "remarkable," but the restaurant had bucked the slowing economic tide.
"We’ve been probably up for November and December 20 percent," he said, compared to last year. Asked why he thought that was, he laughed and replied, "I hope it’s the good food and good atmosphere."
As of last weekend, the restaurant was almost completely booked for New Year’s Eve. Tringola said he had a few openings for the 5 p.m. seating, but the 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. seatings were completely filled. He was having a five-piece band and a vocalist for the evening, but no cover charge.
Tringola has high hopes for another banner year in 2002. His restaurant will mark completion of its second year in business in March.
"I’m hoping that next year will be better than ever," he said.
Flo’s Furniture, Ocean Avenue, a six-year-old business, is completing its first year of business in Long Branch. The furniture store made its move from Red Bank and reports that business was doing well, but dropped slightly after Sept. 11. Flo said that she did not have any major furniture sales, but accessories for the home did move well. For next year, Flo plans to add an interior design studio and workshop, bringing in a plethora of fabrics to satisfy a customer with any style.
Harley-Davidson of Long Branch, on Broadway, has big expectations for the year ahead. Store manager Phil Greig said that business is very good and numbers are up over last year. The Harley V-Rod bike, said Greig, "was a popular bike this year, featuring the first water-cooled motorcycle." We had orders for more than 20 of those bikes, which all sold out."
The store will be celebrating two anniversaries this year. Harley-Davidson turns 100 years old, and the Long Branch store will celebrate its 30th birthday. For the event, the store will feature a Harley museum sometime in the fall, and cruise night is once again planned for the summer.
Siperstein’s Paint and Wallpaper on lower Broadway is showing a 10 percent increase overall in business this year. "Sales did drop off a bit after Sept. 11," said Todd Katz, a principal of the company, "but the warm weather has helped sales." Katz added that with less traveling these days, people are putting extra time into their homes. Low-interest rates also may have lent a helping hand, as well, allowing homeowners to get good deals on equity loans to use to redecorate or remodel their homes.
Siperstein’s also will be remodeling its store on lower Broadway which falls into the redevelopment zone.
Katz said that a new facade is coming for the store, as well as bringing back windows to the lower level of the store. Along with the upgrades, there will be an expansion of the facility. The store will be adding a line of home accessories to coordinate with wall covers.
Siperstein’s, family owned since 1904, has 22 stores in New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Long Branch store will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in the new year.