by Kara Hildreth
Thisweek Newspapers

Downtown Farmington businesses hope Santa fills all the stockings with local merchandise picked out from the downtown bakery, jeweler, candy shop, floral shop, and specialty gift stores. Merchants hope the hustle and bustle will start early as shoppers check their lists twice.

The Holiday Preview Open House begins next Thursday when many downtown merchants will plan to stay open later to give local Farmington residents a place to get started on holiday shopping.

The open house, designed to give merchants a chance to show off holiday merchandise, will run into Friday and Saturday. Many downtown Farmington stores will offer extended hours during the weeks leading up until Christmas.

"We can offer a short drive to get a head start on holiday shopping,î said Kris Akin, owner and manager of Welcome Friends Floral and Gifts located on Oak Street in Farmington.

"In the past, Thursday night was a traditional shopping night in Farmington,î said Akin. "Twenty or 30 years ago - in the olden days - Farmington downtown was the central downtown, and Thursday night businesses stayed open later so people could do their shopping. All or a lot of the small businesses then were family owned and operated.î

Over the years with heavy competition from city shopping centers and mega malls fulfilling shoppers' demands for quick, cheap goods, many small town downtown areas like Farmington began to send the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker customers to the malls in the larger suburbs.

"We want to invite all of Farmington to come downtown,î Akin said.

Although it is optional for the downtown merchants to stay open later, Akin said many stores and shops will be open later.

"We want to see if people will come to the downtown area without having to drive out at night late and use up gas,î she said.

If Farmington tiger clothing is on the holiday list for young and old tiger fans, Duebers Department Store, located on Third Street, offers a large choice of outer wear, hats, mittens, scarves, ski masks, as well as T-shirts and sweatshirts, said Susan Tjomsland, manager of Duebers.

For many locals who have not ventured into the downtown variety store, "Duebers is like a small department store,î Tjomsland said, offering many different departments into a smaller store.

Some departments are fine collectibles and gifts, stationery, toys, fabric, giftware, holiday decorations, and a good selection of Farmington Tiger clothing to show off the orange and black Farmington school colors.

"We sell Tigerware for all ages, including carrying letter jackets and patches.î

Many Christmas ornaments and holiday albums and books will also be on display and for sale next week. Duebers will stay open until 8 p.m. Thursday evening.

Besides saving dollars, time and energy from driving into the larger suburbs or trudging into the malls, Akin said many quaint stores downtown merchants will offer many unique gift options with a local touch.

With the departure of a few downtown Farmington businesses, Akin said it may look like there are some empty buildings, but there is still a lot of activity and business going on in old downtown Farmington.

"We think people should come and check us out,î Akin said, as she looks forward to meeting many new Farmington residents or some who have never ventured into her gift and floral shop.

Welcome Friends sells small gifts, collectibles, wreaths, antiques and, of course, fresh floral designs, flowers and plants.

"We have the local Farmington Bakery that sells fresh bread and baked goods and many other businesses, including many restaurants, Bugaloos, Gerster Jewelers, beauty shops, Carlson-Wagonlit Travel, Econofoods and Pellicci Hardware,î Akin said.

Many downtown Farmington businesses are talking about in the near future collectively marketing businesses as a more-organized downtown association, Akin said. "We would like to do joint promotions,î she said.

"With new businesses coming to Farmington, it will be good to expand the retail new businesses,î Akin said, adding maybe some of the shopping traffic from Vermillion River Crossings will venture into downtown Farmington to see what the town offers the savvy shopper. "I am looking forward to the new development.î

Kara Hildreth is at farmington.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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