Tax holiday, sidewalk sale spur business in downtown Ocean Springs

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Although rain may have kept crowds from being as heavy as hoped, Saturday's sidewalk sale, coupled with the state's tax free holiday weekend, spurred sales for many downtown Ocean Springs businesses.

"Business has been great," said Colby Harrelson as she stood behind the counter at The Bay Collection on Washington Avenue. "I think it's a combination of the sidewalk sale and the tax holiday. People want to know where the sales are, school is about to start back and people need new clothes."

While rain can often be a boon for malls and other indoor shopping venues, Harrelson said it can be a hindrance for downtown shops.

"It's hit or miss with the rain," she said. "Some days it's good, but in downtown Ocean Springs involves a lot of walking. You have to be willing to walk outside."

Dana Rubenstein at Lee Tracy also said business had been steady all day.

"Despite the weather, it has turned out to be a very busy day," she said. "With the tax free weekend and the sidewalk sale, it's been busier than a typical Saturday. It's been a great turnout of people."

"It's been a great opportunity for us to clear out our summer stuff and get ready for the fall merchandise to pour in."

Jack Stevenson, owner of Salmagundi's, said the rain was definitely a hindrance for Saturday business, but said Friday's kickoff of the sidewalk sale had been a success.

"Yesterday was reasonable," he said, "today looks like a wash. Yesterday was an increase over last year."

For The Kajun Kubbard at the corner of Washington and Government Street, it was the store's first time participating in the sidewalk sale.

"It's been busy," said Katherine Kuhn. "It's definitely been busier than a typical Saturday, even with the bad weather."

Not every business was feeling the love, however. At The Office lounge, owner Chris Collins sat at the end of the bar, hoping things would pick up later in the afternoon.

"We're hoping it gets busier, but not yet," Collins said. "With this bad weather, it's not a great day for us. "We're hoping by 3 or 4..."

Most retail shops in the area offered heavy discounts on many items, as well as an array of unique products -- none more so than at the Queen's Bath shop, where a sign outside the store beckoned people in.

"What's a Monkey Fart?" the sign read. "Come in and see."

In the interest of investigative journalism, The Mississippi Press pursued further information on the item.

As it turns out, a "Monkey Fart" is a soap made of some 30 different fruits, including bananas and coconuts, or "everything a monkey would eat," explained Queen's Bath co-owner Deanna Jackson, who added the soap is one of their best-selling items.

"Business has been pretty good, even with the rain," Jackson added. "Better than I expected."

Shoppers walking the sidewalks didn't seem to mind the light rain which followed morning thunderstorms.

"We saw the sign for the sidewalk sale and thought we'd come down, look in the shops and get something to eat," said Ellen Badders of Ocean Springs, accompanied by Verna Margroff, also of Ocean Springs.

"And what's better than walking around downtown Ocean Springs?" Magroff said. "It's like a fantasyland down here, like stepping back in time."

Source: http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/tax_holiday_sidewalk_sale_spur.html

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