Sidewalk Sale Persists Despite Heat, Parking Lot Project

Carol Zimmerman and Lisa Gaudette, owners of the Toy Corner and Abby’s Hallmark Store in Oakton Shopping Center, planned their annual sidewalk sale months ago. 

Timing is everything and what they got for the event – scheduled for today through Sunday – was a heat advisory and blocked parking spaces because of a parking lot sealing project.

Both took the inconvenience in stride.

“It [sealing] creates a little bit of a disruption, but there wasn’t any way to avoid it,” Zimmerman said. “It’s part of doing business.”

Abby's Hallmark Store owner Lisa Gaudette agreed: “That’s the way things go. In the end, it all works out.”

The sidewalk sale began about 10 years ago by the Red Apple Store, which is no longer in the shopping center. Stores changed and moved, and the event is now down to these two stores. 

The customers look forward to this event, both owners said. Customers are notified of the sale through email and postcards.

Abby’s Hallmark Store manager, Sara Havacnak, said the customers might be a little frustrated with the parking, but the section in front of their store should be open later Friday afternoon. 

There is still parking open at the center as the work is being done in phases. 

Grace Picchiottino, a 2009 Oakton High School graduate and longtime Abby’s Hallmark employee, staffed the outside event. She had a positive attitude about the heat. 

“The breeze makes it not too bad," Picchiottino said. “Our customers love that we’re a small business, and they come out to support us regardless.

Customer Ruth Turner took time to look through the Abby Hallmark sidewalk sale merchandise, but did comment, “It’s a bit too hot to be outside shopping.”

Redwood Commercial sent out a memo to all the stores dated May 26 stating the parking lot would be sealed and restriped in June to protect and maintain it.

Jeff Hadlock, president of Redwood Commercial Real Estate Services, said Thursday the company was doing everything possible to keep parking lot maintenance disruption to a minimum. Redwood Commercial manages Oakton Shopping Center.

The parking lot will be divided into five sections. Each area will be closed for about 36 hours on different days. Work is weather-permitting.

• Phase 1: June 1,2  (PDC/Crack and Stripe)
• Phase 2: June 7,8
• Phase 3: June 9, 10
• Phase 4: June 13, 14
• Phase 5: June 15, 16