Madison Businesses Cautiously Optimistic This Season

MADISON, Wis. -- Madison businesses are braving the rough economic waters and hoping for a busy holiday shopping season.

With roughly 25 days left until Christmas, some Madison retailers said that that they're already feeling the impact of post-Thanksgiving shopping.

"State Street is the happening place this weekend and from now on," said Chuck Bauer, co-owner of the Soap Opera. "Business was very brisk on 'Black Friday.'"

Bauer said that he's hoping that despite gloomy predictions, the holiday season will keep his business in the black.

"We're holding our own," said Bauer. Comparing this year to recent ones, Bauer said, "I think the figures are very close to identical. So, we're very gratified and grateful to every person who's doing us a favor simply by walking in the door."

Close to the Soap Opera, Fontana Sports reports that business is up 15 percent from last year, WISC-TV reported.

John Hutchinson, co-owner of Fontana Sports, said of 'Black Friday,' "Yesterday was really busy for us. It was an incredible day. It was one of the busiest days we've had in a long time."

Business at Fontana might have been helped by their offer of free skiing tickets at Cascade Mountain. All customers had to do to receive theirs was come into the store and ask for them.

Kelly Starr-King of Dane County Buy Local, which boasts 364 business and retail members throughout the county, reported that Black Friday business was mixed throughout the county.

"In the outlying areas, it's a little bit slower the day after Thanksgiving," said Starr-King. "In Madison, it's terrific."

Starr-King said that she thinks that something that may help locally-owned businesses to have a cheerful holiday season is to offer unique gifts wrapped in good customer service.

Chuck Bauer agrees: "We promote ourselves just by treating everyone like a king."

On Saturday, downtown Madison hosted a holiday open house, where shoppers could decorate cookies and discover local stores. The goal of the first-ever open house was to encourage more people to shop locally and to support independent businesses, WISC-TV reported.