The holiday spirit in downtown Yonkers can be found in the small retail shops that line the streets of the city”™s waterfront district.
C.H. Martin, a third generation, family-owned department store in Getty Square.
Owner Martin Goldman said he has not seen a recession as bad as this since the store opened 30 years ago.
Despite that, he said sales are “down slightly, but not much.”
“This is the first year that we”™ve felt it, but still, we”™re doing business and it”™s not terrible,” Goldman said. “The windows are trimmed, the store is well- lit and maintained and clean, and the values are great.”
Steve Sansone, executive director of the Yonkers downtown waterfront BID, said many retailers are offering holiday discounts.
“I think people are re-discovering that this is the place to shop,” Sansone said.
Sansone said by shopping downtown, residents can support the merchants, many of whom live and work within the confines of the city.
“You can really do some smart shopping down here, and I think that”™s it”™s not just shopping,” Sansone said. “It”™s an experience to be down here, and there”™s a little bit of everything” from fast food to fine dining.
The city is offering free parking at meters and municipal lots the two weekends prior to Christmas.
Sansone said the new retail pioneers and “the pioneers that have been here for quite a long time” mix together quite well.
A downtown apparel store has been faring well despite the economy.
“Fortunately for us, sales in this location have been pretty good,” said Deo Persad, district manager of Easy Pickins, a women”™s apparel store. “We are happy with the numbers.”
Persad said the store”™s low prices and good selection will help it weather the economic storm.
“A female can get a complete outfit here for a good price, so I think sales for this holiday season will be as good as other years,” Persad said.
Dorette Brown, owner of health and wellness store Body and Soul Essentials Inc., said customers have told her they plan to shop local this holiday season.
“We cater to people on a smaller scale than a Whole Foods store, so as a result people keep coming back,” Brown said as she poured shots of wheat grass for customers.
The store, which opened four years ago, has seen a significant decrease in business recently.
“The week before Thanksgiving, there was a major decrease,” Brown said. “Business is down 30 to 50 percent.”
To make up for lost sales, Brown is offering “grab bag” savings of up to 15 percent for customers this holiday season. The store also offers gift baskets.
Abraham Vuchnik, owner of Rainbow Shop, a clothing/apparel store, is realistic about the holiday sales forecast.
“I”™m not expecting a big boom in business, but I think we”™ll do OK,” Vuchnik said.
C.H. Martin, which carries everything under the sun including clothing, electronics, jewelry, apparel and furniture has been open since 1978 offering “good value for the money on an everyday basis” Goldman said.
The Christmas circular includes goods for the whole family,including pajama sets for around $6 and two pairs of jeans for $13.
“It”™s an everything store,” Goldman said.
Store manager Charles Velenovsky makes sure sales are strong. If he sees an item that”™s not selling, Velenovsky has the authority to reduce the price as a “manager”™s special.”
There are 30 employees at the 40,000-square-foot store. C.H. Martin owns the building, which makes it possible to continue offering values to its customers that are “better than Walmart.”
“We have better values than most retailers,” Goldman said.
