Shops Brace for Marine Absence

Just as business was finally picking up again at her downtown games and comics shop, Doris Schwartz has to brace for more tough times with the deployment of Marines to Somalia from nearby Camp Pendleton.

Like she did during the Gulf War, Schwartz and her husband, Sy, have decorated a Christmas tree outside their I Love Games Too shop with yellow ribbons, hoping for the safe and swift return of military personnel from their relief mission in Africa.

So far, about 250 names of the Schwartz’s Marine friends and customers--who make up about 95% of the Orange County shop’s regular customers--adorn the yellow ribbons, with more expected in coming weeks.

“The recession really started to lift from the day of the election,” said Schwartz, the self-described “Mother of Camp Pendleton.” “That was wonderful. People had more hope. This was the first time we could breathe a little bit.”

Now, Schwartz fears her business will again be “devastated.” During the Gulf War, about $14,000 in comic book subscription sales alone went uncollected.

This mission “will affect every business in San Clemente, even those businesses that do not usually cater to Marines,” Schwartz said.

Although not as financially dependent on Camp Pendleton Marines as Oceanside, San Clemente merchants are expecting declines in business this holiday sales season as more Marines begin leaving Camp Pendleton this week.

“The Marine base is certainly a contributor to our economy,” said Mimi Collier, executive director of the San Clemente Chamber of Commerce. “We’ve already noticed there haven’t been as many Marines in town.”

Until they know how many Marines from the north end of the base bordering San Clemente will be leaving, Collier said, it’s hard to predict how many businesses will be hurt. Certain fast-food restaurants, 24-hour diners, bars, motels and other entertainment businesses that cater to Marines on the weekends, however, will almost certainly be affected, she said.

Sales have already slowed at Jeff Cooke’s Bourbon Street Sandwichery, where drivers deliver orders to Marines on and off the base. Marines make up about 60% of the shop’s customers. During the Gulf War, Cooke said he lost about half his usual business and some of his part-time Marine work force.

He’s hopeful things will be better this time.

“Our business is definitely affected,” he said. “I just don’t know what’s going to happen yet.”

At Linda Kruhmin’s Sew What shop off Avenida Palizada, a number of newly tailored jackets, slacks and other items await pickup from Marine customers, many of whom already may have left for Somalia for an undetermined amount of time.

“We do a lot of alterations for the military and a lot of monogramming,” said Kruhmin, whose sales dropped by about 40% during the Gulf War. “This is going to hurt. I’m going to feel it, believe me.”

Down on the south end of El Camino Real, Coaches Corner bar owner Irv Weiner is optimistic the changes he has made in the popular Marine hangout since buying it 10 months ago will help him survive this military operation. The previous owner of the bar, formerly called D.J’s, went out of business after the Gulf War, Weiner said.

“Fortunately for me, when I reopened as a sports bar, I was able to attract a more civilian clientele,” Weiner said. “Right now I’m in a wait-and-see posture. Hopefully, I’ll only lose 10%-20% of my business.”

“I hate to see them go again,” said Wilma Bloom, owner of Ace Hardware on Avenida del Mar.

During the Gulf War, sales at Bloom’s shop dropped by 10%, primarily because of the Marine families who moved away. Bloom said she doesn’t think it will be that bad this time.

“It will be more of a trickle down for me,” she said. “On weekends, when they come into town with nothing to do, they love to stop by and browse. Somehow my store reminds them of home.”

At Sonny’s Pizza & Pasta on North El Camino Real, another popular spot with Marines, business has remained steady, although day manager Tom Olsen said he expects some loss in sales.

“We’re hoping for the best,” Olsen said. “At least it’s for a good cause.”