Mayor Michael Cindrich said he is confident Mount Kisco will weather the economic storm due to the convenience and uniqueness of the community”™s services.
“Could I say we”™ll be as successful as last holiday season? No ”¦but businesses are continuing to open.”
South Moger Avenue shops, Bedford Road businesses and Main Street establishments are at the heart of Mount Kisco”™s economy. It”™s a village where mom-and-pop shops meet nationally known names.
“What”™s going on in Mount Kisco now is a cut above the rest,” Cindrich said. “Though we”™re not immune to the struggling economy, we do offer a lot in this community.”
A slew of new retailers including a Sears Appliance Showroom, AT&T Wireless, Blue Asian Fusion restaurant and other stores mean more options for shoppers.
“I”™m confident that the Mount Kisco area is going to do well, only because of the national corporations that are still investing in the community, such as the new Sears appliance outlet,” Cindrich said. “I was very encouraged by it and attended the grand opening Nov. 8. ”¦they”™re encouraged by the prospects ”¦ and offer great services and competitive pricing.”
Echoing the mayor”™s assessment of the business scene is Janet Deane, executive director of the Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce.
“So far, the tone has been very busy ”¦I couldn”™t find a place to park this weekend,” she said “A lot of the big chains bring in out-of-towners, which in turn, helps the smaller boutique type stores.”
Tom Aiello, spokesman for Sears Holding Corp. said the company plans to combat rough economic conditions “by offering shopping solutions that empower customers such as layaway, early Black Friday deals and great value and quality.”
The new AT&T Wireless store at 134 E. Main St. also plans to serve customers in a personalized way, according to Twanda Washington, sales director for the New York/New Jersey AT&T wireless division. “The Mount Kisco AT&T Wireless is a great new store for us,” Washington said. “It features a hands-on layout and provides a fun, interactive experience for customers through information stations and experience tables.”
Washington stressed that wireless devices remain in demand despite an economic downturn and said prepaid GoPhones and AT&T Smart Limits afford flexibility in pricing and features.
Cindrich offered an optimistic look at the future of Mount Kisco”™s business development, but recognized the impact of an economic downturn on the village”™s small businesses. Â
“Small business owners will have some concerns, as each of us do,” Cindrich said. “The unfortunate part is; when you”™re a successful business owner, you still need short-term money to keep the business running.”
Some merchants are feeling the economic pinch. “Do you want to hear the truth?” asked Scott Redmond, owner of Starbase 2.5 on Main Street, a penny candy store and sports memorabilia shop. “Business has been terrible ”¦ I opened a store that I thought would do well, since this type did well in SoHo and the Village,” Redmond said. “As fine a store as, say Target is, you have to put it farther away from the local community.”
At Atlantic Appliance, just yards from the new Sears showroom, owner Richard Szamborski acknowledged its close proximity to his independently owned and operated store.
“We welcome the competition,” he said. “We”™ve been here in town for 20-plus years and our prices have always been competitive with all of the big box stores.”
“As far as the holiday shopping season, it was really quiet in August and September ”¦ but we”™re noticing people buying more now, so we”™re actually seeing an upturn,” Szamborski said.
In addition to big boxes and small businesses, banks abound in Mount Kisco. “We have 14 right now, but lost WaMu when they consolidated with their Yorktown branch,” said Bill Harden, president of the Mount Kisco chamber. “We have more banks now than we know what to do with.”
Harden commented on a new venture in Mount Kisco, which he projects as potentially providing a business boost. “A storyteller”™s festival is being planned for the early part of next year,” he said. “They are common in Europe and there are only one or two in the country.”
Alyssa Reit, harpist-composer and founder of Singing Harp, a nonprofit story theater company, codirects Sunflower Story Arts Festival, which Harden said caught his attention and “is the kind of thing the Chamber can get behind and push.” Harden said the storytellers will work out of different venues in town.
“Merchants should stand up and cheer,” Harden said. “People will shop, recreate ”¦it could bring a whole new flock of people into Mount Kisco for a long weekend.”
