Staff Writer

ONEONTA — The frightful weather outside Thursday may have kept some shoppers from taking advantage of post-Christmas sales at local stores, said several area retailers.

But today and the rest of the weekend should bring in the traditional throng of bargain hunters, said the merchants, who are looking to clear out leftover inventory.

"We did some business, but considering the weather, it was a non-day," said Arnie Levy, general manager of Drogen's in Oneonta. "I expect that tomorrow and Saturday would be much busier."

Less than 24 hours after a Nor'easter dropped more than two feet of snow in parts of upstate New York, local stores and the Southside Mall were open for business, albeit a tad later than usual.

"We opened at noon," Levy said of Drogen's Southside store that is featuring after Christmas and year-end clearance sales of up to 70 percent off in some departments.

The Southside Mall, which normally opens at 8 a.m. on the day after Christmas, didn't officially open until noon because of the weather, said mall manager Tonya Harman.

Harman, who noted that the mall's stores opened their doors at different times, said the weather probably won't put too much of a crimp in overall shopping for post-Christmas deals.

"People will be out tomorrow as well as the rest of the weekend," Harman said.

Those who did brave the weather to shop at the mall Thursday found themselves enjoying a relatively stress-free bargain-hunting experience.

"We've been here maybe an hour and there haven't been any drastic lines," said Bobbie Jo Beecher, of Morris, who was shopping with her mother, Denise Thompson.

"It's a laid back afternoon," said Thompson, of Smithville Flats. "This is a nice way for mother and daughter to goof off."

Beecher said they had found good deals on sheets and pants during their time at the mall.

Ann Prato of Guilford said she and her three granddaughters headed to the mall after digging the car out of its tomb of snow.

"They begged me to take them and I did," said Prato, whose granddaughters were in Fashion Bug, cashing in on some gift certificates they got as Christmas presents.

Stephanie Gale, assistant manager of Fashion Bug, blamed the weather for a fairly slow day.

"I think that's the big reason we're so empty, but once the snow starts to melt and the roads are cleared better, a lot more people will be here during the weekend," said Gale, repeating the sentiments of other retailers.

Stores are counting more this year on shoppers spending a lot during the last week of December, which traditionally accounts for about 10 percent of holiday sales, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.

K-Mart manager David Pierce agreed the weather played a role in the slow shopper traffic that he predicted will pick up over the next couple of days.

"It's probably going to be crazy tomorrow because there weren't many returns today," he said.

Oneonta resident Renee DiMartin, who was shopping in K-Mart, was wheeling a cart full of Christmas decorations and gift wrapping, which was 50 percent off as part of the post-Christmas clearance sale.

"I usually get up early and come out shopping," she said. "It's a good way to save money."

At Wal-Mart in Oneonta shopping was steady despite the weather, according to store's co-manager Tom Hanagan.

"We've actually been very busy," Hanagan said.

Not surprisingly, he said, one of the biggest sellers at Wal-Mart Thursday was the snowblower.

"We had between 40 and 50 in stock," he said, "and now we're down to 10."

———

Jill Fahy can be reached at jfahy@thedailystar.com or (607) 441-7221.