When Shoppers Have Nowhere to Go

At some points, Merrick Avenue appeared to be a busy center of commerce.  Nearly all parking spots on the street and behind the CVS Pharmacy were full.  Despite this, there seemed to be little last-minute holiday shopping going on there last week.

One culprit:  several stores have gone out of business.

There are parts of the street with three consecutive stores displaying space available for rent.  Though there were up to a dozen people walking Merrick Avenue at any given time last Wednesday afternoon, none said that they had come specifically for holiday shopping.

Some stores, however, have not felt the impact of a slow shopping season due in part to a still struggling economy.  Michael Freiser of Yussel's Place, a Judaic arts and gifts store, said that his store's business had been "about the same" this holiday season as compared to years past. 

"We're a specialty store," said Freiser, adding that the store's customers who traveled from other towns helped sales.

Freiser said he did not think his store was immune to a recession. 

"Even in this merchandise category people cut back," he said.  "When people are hurting, they're hurting.  I think things are going to turn around, sooner or later."

The best example of residents trying to save money may be that the dollar store was by far the busiest store on Merrick Avenue last week.  The CVS behind Merrick Avenue was packed with customers, and the various restaurants, delicatessens, diners, and pizza stores all had customers going in and out consistently.

Though the hard-to-find quality of the products at Yussel's Place may have helped sales, other specialty stores on Merrick Avenue have not been as fortunate. 

Who's on First Collectibles, a sports memorabilia store, is no longer in business. Other closed stores include a frame shop, a shipping and packaging store and several unidentifiable stores.

"People are trying to save money… trying to buy only what's necessary," said Merrick resident Mary Valsa, who was out shopping for groceries with her father.

Valsa said that the closed shops hurt business even after they are gone.  She said that with the disappearance of some of her favorite stores, she had fewer reasons to go to Merrick Avenue in order to buy other items.

Valsa said that a bakery that she and her father frequented went out of business in the last year. 

"My father is elderly, and now he can't go and get bread," Valsa said.