By Clyde Noel

Town Crier Correspondent

Last Friday’s Los Altos shoppers were looking for bargains

Don’t believe stories that the economy Grinch will steal Christmas this year. The day after Thanksgiving, traditionally the start of the Christmas shopping season, saw quite a few shoppers on Main and State streets in Los Altos carrying bags of gifts for friends and relatives.

“This is my first day working at Imaginarium and I really don’t know if business is good, but all I’ve been doing all day is selling Lego Bionicles,” said employee Megan Garcia. “People are buying toys for gifts.”

Analysts predicted Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving, when retailers generally begin showing a profit for the year - might be good only for discounters and stores that mark down their merchandise early in anticipation of slow sales.

A Mountain View shopper coming out of Calla’s said, “Things are a bit slow but I’m going to spend about as much this year as last year. It’s the Christmas spirit. You spend, you go into debt and worry about it after Christmas.”

Even though parking spaces were easy to find last Friday afternoon, shoppers in town were buying.

Brian Rankin, A. G. Ferrari Foods employee, said sales were brisk. “If today’s any indication of holiday sales, we’ll have a busy season,” he said.

Dennis Rich, owner of a Main Street clothing store, said people are looking at sweaters and ideas for gifts. “I had one sell for $1,400 and that’s a good start.”

Gleim’s Jewelry store was busy most of the day. Employee Vicki Peach said people are focused on value and the usefulness of the gift. “We have been selling a lot of engagement rings lately, even anniversary rings,” she said. “Others are looking at colored stone rings and South Sea pearls this year.”

Eddie Richardson, owner of Sheldon of Los Altos, said this time of year is always good. “People come home for family portraits,” he said. “Parents and grandparents are here for Thanksgiving and come in for group portraits.”

Analysts expect limited growth in Internet-based sales compared to the explosive growth of recent years. Amazon.com, one of the biggest Internet retailers, reported more activity than previous years, but other Internet suppliers have not reported any large activity from last week.

Long lines, crowded parking lots and early bird specials were evident early at Stanford Shopping Center and Wal-Mart in Mountain View. After the early morning specials were gone, people were looking instead of buying in the afternoon.

Shoppers on Main and State streets could be divided into two groups: those who were serious shoppers and those who could care less and were walking the streets for something to do.

“I didn’t know what to expect,” said the owner of Marion Jackston’s children’s clothing. “We were busy a lot more than we expected - people were buying gifts for children.”

Cindy Eberhardt, owner of Los Altos Card & Party, offered the same feelings. “The day was much better than we expected,” she said.

Among shoppers, there is a conservative attitude prevailing this year. People nervous about job security and political uncertainties are keeping their spending in check. Others feel the Christmas spirit will keep the economy rolling and expect to buy as much this year as last.