By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- As Christmas draws near, Niles businesses are reaping the benefits of generous holiday shoppers.
Carlson said business has been improving every holiday season since opening a store in Niles.
The day after Thanksgiving, Walmart attracted customers with DVD players available for the special sale price of $29.99.
Carlson said they sold out in an hour and a half with more than 500 units in stock.
Other popular items this season include remote control vehicles, video game systems and hardware goods.
Chapman said, "We have seen a steady stream of business for the past couple of weeks."
Elizabeth Bradford Designs is another business that is pleased with this year's holiday sales.
Bradford, whose business is celebrating its first holiday season in Niles, said the general atmosphere has been very happy.
The new store carries products such as custom draperies, home decorating accessories and a variety of other gifts. Many of the items are designed by Bradford.
She said decorative clocks, products featuring wine motifs, and pillows with fun and inspirational sayings are among the best sellers this season.
Business was also booming at Thursday night's "All I Want For Christmas" shop located in the old Fifth Third Bank lobby at 210 E. Main St. in downtown Niles.
Lisa Croteau, director of marketing for the Niles Downtown Development Authority, said this has been the shop's best year since it opened three years ago.
The special shop designed specifically for children is presented by the Niles Downtown Merchants Association and features an assortment of inexpensive gifts.
When asked about what kinds of gifts were available, Croteau said "You name it. We have stuffed animals, dolls, candles, mittens, and tons of other stuff."
Croteau said the shop had its best night of the season with more than 150 customers and $800 of business in just two hours. The night's festivities also included adorning the streets with luminaries and an open house put on by the Main Street Initiative program. The open house allowed the public to view preliminary drawings of some of the future streetscape concepts. The overwhelming support from the Niles community included 40 volunteers who helped to make the night possible by assisting in the shop, open house and with the luminaries. "The community continues to support these events and we have had nothing but a good response," said Croteau.