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Business & Tech

Local Businesses Hope For Holiday Boost

While consumer spending remains low in the area, local store owners are hoping for the best during the critical holiday shopping season.

The retail scene in Harrison is slow again this holiday season and, with only a few shopping days remaining until Christmas, store owners are hopeful that one last holiday push will help balance the budget for what has been another difficult year for small businesses.

But with more and more customers going to places like Wal-Mart and Best Buy for their holiday gift shopping, local businesses like those on Halstead Avenue continue to struggle.

"We try to survive," said Maria Ruales, a manager at. "I've been in business for 40 years and this is the toughest it's ever been."

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"It's worse than last year," said Marilda Smyth of . "We've had to cut everything: employees, inventory, the shop itself."

There are more and more storefronts posted with "For Rent" signs on Halstead Avenue. With the economy in such a fragile state, this sight has become more common across the country.

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"It's important to us," said Ruales. "People don't come to local stores and I don't know why."

Though the recent cold weather probably hasn't helped, store owners say the problems are rooted deeper than that.

"You can see there's nobody in here right now," said Smyth. "Christmas is the season for us. That's when we make the money to keep the store going for the next year."

"Years before, we had expectations, new merchandise," said Ruales. "Now it's unpredictable. People don't buy here and no matter how hard we try, there's still no sales."

With Christmas right around the corner, the possibility of a last-minute shopping rush remains. Store owners remain cautiously optimistic that they'll feel the effects of that push.

"Last year [customers] waited until the last week, hopefully it'll be the same this year," said Smyth.

Despite recent issues, there are some expansions. Just in time for the holiday season Harrison Dollar Plus, a new dollar store, opened in a space that was previously occupied by Gold Rush Jewelers on Halstead Avenue. Mae Comunale, one of the store's managers, was pleasantly surprised by the reception she's received.

"It's been a little hard but there's been a fantastic response from the customers," said Comunale. "Gift bags are moving, little housewares like mugs, party favors for the holidays too—it's wonderful."

A customer leaving the store after a purchase said, "You're not going to find deals like two Christmas cards for $1 anywhere else, it's great."

Store owners in the area are hopeful this is a sign of things to come for downtown Harrison, maybe as soon as this year.

"We have hopes for the future," said Ruales. "Hopefully when the economy is better there will be more jobs and we can have some expectations."

Comunale said: "If people come back it will be great for the town of Harrison."

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