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Mammoth business holds steady in recessionary summer |
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Friday, 14 August 2009 |
By Catherine Billey
Mammoth Times Staff Writer
 Mammoth Times Photo/Catherine Billey “If you can make it through this year, you can make it through any year,” laughed Kim Harris, co-owner with Keely Ferguson of Minky Monkey Toy Store since December. Her customers are looking for value.
An informal survey of retail, restaurant and service businesses at the midsummer mark in Mammoth Lakes revealed that many are holding steady compared to last year, and most – even the new businesses – are doing better than owners expected.
Retail
Not surprisingly, the businesses offering good values are doing well – foremost among them the Dollar Mart, which opened last December.
“She’s had to make three trips a month rather than just one because we’re selling out so fast,” said manager Christine Ziola of owner Jennifer DeAngelis.
They’re actually weekly visits, said DeAngelis, who confirmed that certain products such as nail polish and hair dye have been flying out the door. She hopes to receive reasonable shipping rates with the contacts she’s established to alleviate travel and time away from her family.
“We actually were at a trade show at Las Vegas looking at new merchandise, and instead of staying an extra day, we opted to go to L.A. for inventory,” she said.
Kathleen Rudder, owner of the Mammoth Luxury Outlets with husband Paul, said business has been awesome. “Our stores are just full. We’re doing very well.” But she stopped short of saying business was up from last year, even though the sales being offered have helped.
“We’ve been very fortunate. Our numbers are not like a recession or anything like that. I keep going, where’s the recession? Everywhere I go, people are spending money. You can barely cross the roadways around here, there’s so much traffic.” The Rudders’ tenants include Van Heusen, Bass, Polo, Coach and Great Outdoors.
“We’ve been real steady during the week and slammed during the weekends,” said Hunter Penewell, who works in the fishing and backpacking department at Kittredge Sports on Main Street.
And David Leonard, owner of the Booky Joint, said his sense is the numbers are up from last year. “We’ve seen more locals in this summer and a lot of people we haven’t seen from out of town in three years.”
“If you can make it through this year, you can make it through any year,” laughed Kim Harris, co-owner with Keely Ferguson of Minky Monkey Toy Store on Old Mammoth Road, which opened last December. Her customers are looking for the value and inventory that they offer. “We’re not known as the expensive toy store in town,” she noted.
Retail is holding steady for clothing merchants in the Village, even if it’s a bit down. “It’s not as good as we usually do, but it’s better than we expected,” said Angela Olson, manager of the women’s clothing store Chato.
“Flat is the new up,” said Tonik owner Kristie Rowley. This July, her business is about the same as last year, though June was down.
At Sierra Design, remodel jobs have picked up in August, though furniture and other sales were down in June and July, according to designer Holly Nulph.
At the nearby Oaktree Furniture store, however, owner Maryannn Hutchison said window covering business has always kept them busy.
“So, even when furniture is down, that stays pretty steady.” What’s really taken off at Oaktree, however, is the Garden Center, which opened in May.
“The garden center has done fantastic,” she enthused.
Restaurants
The new, reasonably-priced food element at the Java Joint has been received enthusiastically by the 9-to-5 work force in town, according to Lynne Blanche, co-owner with Riki Barabo at the co-op there that integrates with Karen Kasten’s coffee and video rental business.
“Being that it’s our first year, we don’t have a comparison,” Blanche said. “We’re thrilled that we’re hearing good things about our food. A lot of the nine to fivers here in town know that we’re here for them.”
Chef Rich Leonin at Thai’d Up said his low prices have attracted locals since 2000. “The locals love us,” he said, noting that business is about the same as last summer. “If anything a little up,” he added.
The higher end Petra’s Bistro & Wine Bar is enjoying a great summer, according to Wine Director Mitch Cahoon. “We’re very happy.”
But at Skadi, a respected, long-established high-end restaurant, things are “good, but not great,” according to Chef Proprietor Ian Algeren. People are looking for deals and, while his menu has a price point of nothing over $24 this summer, the restaurants in town offering happy hours are doing particularly well.
“We’re selling less desserts than we usually do, and the cost of wine per bottle is lower than usual ... Guests who usually come up two or three times a summer – we’ve seen them once this summer.”
He noted that the weekend events can actually hurt the restaurants in town. “But it benefits the town. It’s not about me, it’s about everyone. I think Mammoth is having a great summer.”
Algeren is grateful he’s in Mammoth. “I know a lot of restaurants are closing their doors left and right in big cities, so we’re not doing that.”
Services
Belladonna saw its business boom when it offered bargains on massage earlier this summer. “We are doing great,” said owner Donna Vanderberg.
Although she is down from last year, it’s only by a few hundred dollars. “I think you just have to be grateful for any business you get right now. “
After April, she said she noticed that people were asking about the prices of massage, whereas before they had not. “So I decided to do a special for $50 an hour. When we did that, we’re pretty booked every single day with massage. I think we’re going to run that special through the fall.”
Over at the Catwalk Salon, hair stylist Judy Olson said her business is as consistent as ever. “We have a pretty built up clientele. And everything else we get is extra, which is nice.”
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 22 August 2009 )
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