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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2009
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Volume 8 Issue 88
Santa Monica Daily Press
TWITTERING A PROFIT SEE PAGE 8
Since 2001: A news odyssey
THE WE MADE IT ISSUE
Retailers woo shoppers with deals BY TEDDY LESHNICK Special to the Daily Press
CITYWIDE It’s a good time to shop if you have money. Kurt Peterson, a shopper from Washington D.C half-jokingly asked, “We’re in a recession?” “My [shopping] habits have been the same, which is sad,” Peterson said. “I know CNN two weeks ago said you have to play depression, but I’m hitting Melrose this afternoon.” Most retailers are starting to experience
what some analysts are calling the new depression during this current economic slump. As consumer spending trickles to a slow drip, shops around Santa Monica are slashing prices to attract elusive customers. “We’re trying to increase sales especially now with the slow economy,” Tyler Cummings, manager of sports store Active, said. “We’re doing anything you can to bring anybody in.” Active is currently cutting prices up to 75 percent on certain retail items. The food service industry has also been affected by this recession rather harshly.
Many restaurants aren’t attracting as many customers during lunch time, Peterson said. Rockenwagner Bakery is offering a “stimulus special,” which is a small sandwich and soup for $5.50 during lunch hours. The special’s name wasn’t put in place because of the recession per se, rather it’s a clever and relevant way to garner attention for a newly opened restaurant, Jose Lopez, Rockenwagner Bakery’s manager, said. “Not everyone wants to spend eight or 10 dollars for lunch,” Lopez said. “This will fit people’s budgets.” February is always a slow month for all
kinds of sales, but this year is especially bad, Cummings said. During this time of year, locals traditionally curb their shopping and tourists fill out sagging sales, he said. This year is different. Tourists aren’t spending their foreign cash with typical vigor. Even with all the discounts, buying clothes here is very expensive, Max Ovalle, a Chilean shopper, said. “I always try to look for the sales, but they aren’t as good as some years ago,” Ovalle SEE PRICES PAGE 10
COMMUNITYPROFILE COURTNE DOTSON
Teen recognized as Youth of Year BY MELODY HANATANI Daily Press Staff Writer
WHALES AHOY!
Brandon Wise brandonw@smdp.com Roberto Alcazar (left) and Ceronica Silva (center) look for whales in the Santa Monica Bay during the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium's Whale of a Weekend event on Saturday. Pacific gray whales have been spotted recently in the bay during their annual migration along the West Coast.
WEST L.A. Courtne Dotson’s eyes started welling as she sat and listened to a speech that she knew was about her. In a state of shock and overcome with joy, the 17-year-old Hamilton High School student got out of her chair to a round of applause, accepting the Youth of the Year award by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, honoring the teenager for her volunteer and leadership role with the nonprofit organization. “I couldn’t stop crying,” Dotson said last week about receiving the award at the annual Youth of the Year banquet on Feb. 7. “I kept saying thank you and that I worked really hard for this.” The teenager was recognized for her dedication to the club, all while juggling high school studies and helping her single mother run the household. Founded more than 60 years ago, the Youth of the Year is a national program that SEE CP PAGE 11
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