Tag Archives: economy

A chilly start for sales in downtown Winslow

The unveiling of a “friendlier” Winslow Way hasn’t sparked a resurgence for downtown businesses. At least not yet.

Sales tax figures released for the first six months of 2012 showed receipts from downtown Winslow were down 1.9 percent compared to the same period last year ($211,718 compared to $215,863). That figure might seem insignificant until you recall what Winslow Way looked like in the first half of 2011:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales were lower from January to June this year than in 2011, when shoppers braved a jungle of barricades and traffic cones to visit shops. Downtown continued to lose businesses as well, down to 172 from a total of 201 in 2011.

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A year to endure hardship with ox-like fortitude

Thank your lucky stars that it’s the year of the ox.

According to the Chinese zodiac, the ox signifies prosperity through fortitude and hard work. The ox is seen as patient, tireless and capable of enduring hardship without complaint.

Sounds like just thing for a year filled with downsizings, foreclosures and layoffs.

But before you spend the rest of the year bent to the yoke, take time this weekend to celebrate the year of the ox at the island’s annual Chinese New Year festival.

Here’s what’s going on:

Saturday
The Seattle Chinese Orchestra performs at Island School, 8553 Day Road, at 7 p.m. The orchestra is lead by Roger Nelson, who conducted the Bainbridge Island Symphony for over a decade.

Sunday
Downtown erupts with firecrackers and dragon dancers during the festival parade. Activities for kids, Chinese food and music will also be on hand. The party starts at 11 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m.

For more information, call (206) 780-2328 or visit bichineseconnection.org.

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Snow and blackouts are only the latest problems for Winslow merchants

Doug Tolliver, a “A Shovel 4 Hire,” escorts a Winslow shopper over an icy crosswalk on Monday. Find more photos here

Shoppers squinted and blinked as they entered Lindsleys clothing store on Monday afternoon.

Somewhere among the darkened clothing racks Tom Lindsley was voicing a welcome to them. Most customers needed a few seconds to let their eyes adjust from the glare of Winslow’s snowy streets to the dim of the unlit store.

“Right now all we have is daylight,” said Lindsley, who co-owns the 17-year-old store store with his wife. “And a few flashlights people will hopefully use.”

Lindsleys was one of many downtown shops already struggling under a sluggish economy. The winter snow storm and resulting power outage made a bad situation worse.

And while the Christmas season was anticipated as a happy ending to a tough year, many stores found the snow kept many holiday spenders at home.

“The combination of the weather and the economy really makes things messy,” Lindsley said. “It hurts a lot. Our (sales) are way down. And we’ll have to close early because it’s getting harder to see in here.”

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