By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
The line outside Princeton Record Exchange was 40 people deep waiting for the music store on South Tulane Street to open on Black Friday, the traditional start to the Christmas shopping season.
Merchants in Princeton expressed optimism that they would end the year on a high note, as some businesses were offering discounts to shoppers out walking off Thanksgiving meals from the day before.
“If it gets cold, I have high expectations. If it doesn’t, I have low expectations,” said Henry Landau, of Landau’s on Nassau Street, of his hope for the holiday shopping season. “We’re busy, we’re good.”
With small retailers facing competition from malls and the Internet, one downtown businesswoman took the opportunity on Friday to urge residents to shop local.
“As a small business owner, I have to remain optimistic,” said Lisa Jones, inside her eponymous store on Witherspoon Street. “We need everybody’s support.”
The dichotomy in shopping preferences is in many ways generational.
Karen Ross was on Nassau Street with her daughter, Breanna, and son, James, planning to do some shopping. Ms. Ross said she is a “little old-school” in that she prefers going to stores to buy things. Her daughter, however, said she finds buying over the Internet “more convenient.”
Yet Jon Lambert, owner of the Princeton Record Exchange, said retailers like his offer a “more personable shopping experience.”
“We think small businesses have a lot to offer,” he said.
Some retailers indicated business was brisk in the late morning, while others were hopeful more people would come later in the day.
“It’s busy,” said district manager Rachel Sinagra of Greene Street Consignment, with customers searching through the racks of clothes for something they wanted.
Joanne Farrugia stood inside her children’s toy store, jaZams, on Palmer Square, where business was slow. “It’s a little quiet,” she said. “Hopefully, it’ll get more brisk.”
Tibor Teleky, owner of Princeton Soccer Experience on Witherspoon Street, had a similar refrain about business being “pretty slow,” in his words, this after he had a very good Black Friday in 2015. Like other retailers, he was offering discounts on his merchandise.
One attraction scheduled for later in the day was the annual Christmas tree lighting in Palmer Square that draws crowds to see the more than 60-foot-tall Norwegian Spruce light up. The event was scheduled for 5 p.m.
