Retailers Ready to Show Extra Love for Valentine’s Day

Ever been to the grocery store on Valentine’s Day eve and seen the panic-stricken men buying anything with flowers, candy or packaged in red? A friend of mine confesses, “I’ve been that guy.”

Now, let’s complicate that picture with a day we don’t normally think of as particularly romantic: Monday. 

A beginning-of-the-week Valentine’s Day can be particularly awkward for shoppers and the retailers who count on their purchases during this annual celebration of romance.

But Gig Harbor retailers are making some adjustments so you can still surprise your loved one with something special. 

Stacey Friant, manager of , said the holiday will sneak up on some people. “This year might be kind of odd because a lot of guys will be like ‘oh it’s next week,’ and it is next week, but it’s Monday.” 

The jeweler has a plan to help those last-minute shoppers. “We will be open on Sunday to be here for the guys. A lot of times, they get a chance to sneak away on the weekends,” she said.

“Our location is great because they get their flowers from , they get their card from Hallmark, and they come see us to get her some jewelry,” said Friant. 

Across the sidewalk from Ken Walker Jewelers at , owner Curtis Morford has no complaints about Valentine’s falling on a Monday. 

“When Valentine’s is during the week is the best for my kind of business,” he said. “Typically the 13th and 14th are two of our biggest days of the year. But I’m looking forward to Valentine’s falling on a Monday. Last year it fell on a Sunday, and that’s the worst impact it can be so far as sales goes. When it falls during the week, people come in during the day or on the way home from work."

Meanwhile, , next to the Soundview , won’t be open Sunday, but the florist said it expects to stay busy with plenty of last-minute orders on Friday and Saturday.

“We’ll be here at 5 o’clock in the morning and all day until it’s over on Monday,” said floral assistant Shelly Turnbull.

Kathy Kuhn of said the shop will be open on Monday, but they don’t plan to be open on Sunday. “We have a lot of nice items -- heart-themed and our usual beautiful jewelry,” she said. 

For the special Valentine's meal, is adding special lunch hours on Monday and will remain open Monday night, as usual. 

The will be open for dinner on Monday and has been booked for months. Owner Sue Glenn is also taking reservations for Friday and Saturday. She expects to be fully booked by the end of the week. 

“It’s tradition. Everyone wants to go on that day, but if they can’t do that, they will go the day before or the day after,” Glenn said.