GRANTS - How are the local mom and pop business doing under the current economic situation during the holiday season? There doesn't seem to be an across the board answer, but many small business owners are optimistic.

The Korners Bookstore is experiencing a steady business trend this Christmas season.

“Business is about the same, maybe a little better,” said Margaret Aull, a full-time sales associate.

The store's customer base is mostly local and from Pie Town and Gallup, with occasional tourists. Titles by popular local author, Steve Havill, a former teacher at Granats High School, are doing well and there are only two copies remaining of his latest book, “The Fourth Time is Murder.”

Book store customers are purchasing the usual items, work from artists regularly featured in the store; potters, painters, jewelry.

“I expect jewelry will go a little more as we get nearer to Christmas,” she said.

Korners featured artists are Donna Gage, watercolorist; Jerry Montoya, retablo artist; Emma Singleton, ceramic potter; Denise Alvarez, Southwest design potter; Maika, potter, Kristen Hesalroad, renaissance style jeweler and Karen Sorenson, original design sterling silver jewelry.

At John Brook's Milan Supermarket, Supervisor Carlos Tapia, is confident.

“We've pretty much maintained,” Tapia, stated, “our ads are always going to do well, that what's drawing them in.”

The supervisor said that he expects the rest of the holiday season to be the same as at Thanksgiving. “I haven't noticed any change. I think gasoline prices being lower has given people a little more money to spend on food.”

David Loeffler, owner of Loeffler's Guns Etc. said that his business is a little better than last year.

“People have been planning a little better, I think,” the businessman said. “They are saving. People who have been coming in here have noticed a trend in their funding and have been planning.”

Loeffler attributed the noticeable uptrend in personal finances to lower gas prices. “The recent downturn in gas prices has given people a little more money. They're still driving less, and instead of spending the money, they are saving it,” he commented.

Loeffler said that his regular customers, or people who have found his store recently, have decided to spend their extra money with him.

When asked whether he has noticed a variance in activity at Grants State Bank, bank President Ron Williams stated that nothing significant has been observed.

“We're watching out for that, Williams said, “everything seems normal.”

Some of the bank's customers have mentioned that they are looking for a safe place to save their money, a few have mentioned recent losses, but insurance for deposits has been increased from $100,000 to $250,000 per deposit.

“That should cover that problem,” Williams stated.

“In general, things are quiet,” he emphasized.

Sandy Martin of Serenade Music says that his business is down 20 percent over last year. Beginning around Halloween and through Dec. 24, a lot of people usually begin to put stuff on layaway, Martin said. This year that hasn't been the case.

Martin believes there has been a significant loss of economy and a lowering of incomes.

He said he saw a similar trend in the past and the local economy generally comes back in about two years.

Credit is another factor, he said. “Everyone is pretty well maxed out on their cards,” Martin stated. “They're not using their cards this year. People are holding back, watching the government contracts, like Corrections Corporation of America, which recently lost a contract in California.”

In Cibola County, 85 percent of residents' income is government money. People are either county, city, or state employees, said Martin.

A possible solution, Martin suggested, could be to encourage more industry in the local area. County officials have successfully encouraged small business growth, he said, but those businesses only employ an average of three people each. A small industry, on the average, employs 80 to 100 people.

The owner/manager of Gallery 66 and Acoma Curio Shop, Mary Trask, had a successful November, but this month has been slow. “I haven't had a customer for eight days,” Trask said.

The Curio Shop is located on historic Route 66, and Trask said she is sure that is what saves her business.

“Europeans come by,” she shared, “just because of the location.”

The hardworking Trask doesn't even take a day off. “If I miss a customer, that could be a $200 sale,” said Trask.

By Kathryn Marmon

Beacon staff writer