By By MELISSA GODSEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The businesses in downtown Niles faired well this holiday season.
Red Shoe Jewelry had a grand opening the day after Thanksgiving to kick-off the new store and the holiday season, owner Meg Truesdell said. Red Shoe Jewelry moved from Front Street to a new location on Main Street. Sales were up by around 15 percent this Christmas compared to last at the old location, Truesdell said.
The day after Christmas was a bit slow, but there were still a few shoppers, she said.
"Last year, I thought about closing during the week between Christmas and New Years, but I ended up being busy," Truesdell said. "A lot of people come in for New Years jewelry."
Overall, Red Shoe jewelry had a really good Christmas season, she said.
Veni's Sweet Shop had a stronger year overall than last year, storeowner Mary Marazita said. The sales were up around 10 percent the whole year, including Christmas time, she said.
"During the holidays, we are so busy that we don't have time to do anything else," Marazita said. "Since we make our own candy, if we run out we can send someone to work in the back and make more."
The staff was really good this year, they kept the store prepared for all the Christmas shoppers, she said.
Marazita added Christmas is great in Niles, saying the community offers a lot of support including the surrounding areas. She said Veni's goes from one holiday to the next, and now is getting ready for Valentine's Day.
The United States Postal Service in Niles was busier than usual this Christmas as well, Anne Kyes-Hill, officer in charge at the post office said.
The two Mondays before Christmas were especially busy, people go out and shop on the weekend and want their items mailed out as soon as possible, Kyes-Hill said.
With the line going out the door, a few newer services available at the post office grew in popularity this Christmas, she said.
The automated postal center, found online at www.usps.gov, allowed individuals to work from a computer rather than waiting for a clerk, which saved time for customers. Individuals can also print out postage from home. The third item used to avoid the mess was to call a toll free number provided by the post office and the carrier would pick up the item and bring it to the post office for them.
Kyes-Hill said the post office delivered on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
"Anything that could have been a Christmas present was delivered," she said. "They were like Santa's little elves."