Clinton’s Galleria Visit Filled the Bill : Economy: Expenses for mall security were high, but retailers say the publicity generated was worth it.

Nearly two months after Bill Clinton’s day-after-Thanksgiving visit to the Glendale Galleria, all that remains are a few memories and some significant bills.

The Glendale Police Department must pay for $12,000 in overtime. And a Galleria spokeswoman said the shopping center is footing the bill for extra security and replacement of plants trampled by onlookers climbing up for a better view.

But no one is complaining.

“There are greater issues than monetary ones,” said Brian Butler, the city finance director, who said that the visit was good publicity for the city and its businesses. “I think it was beneficial to everyone.”

*

The Galleria’s official statement was that “the long-range benefits to us and other retailers in Glendale far outweigh any cost that the Galleria may have incurred.” General manager Cindy Chone declined to say how much Clinton’s visit had cost.

According to Glendale Police Chief James Anthony, his thoughts were more focused on security when he first learned of Clinton’s plans than how he would pay for it.

The thought of a possible target, like the President-elect, going through a mall on what is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year caused some feelings of panic.

“All it takes is one person,” Anthony said.

The eventual deployment of 60 officers that day, most on overtime, was the largest part of the department’s expense. Anthony said the extra cost was covered by salary savings, or money that is allocated for vacant staff positions. At the time of Clinton’s visit, Anthony said there were about half a dozen openings.

*

“Any time you have anyone of that stature visit your community, I think it’s worth it,” Anthony said. “I think it rallied the residents of Glendale.”

Even among retailers whose stores were closed in the morning because of the visit, there was minimal grousing.

“I think we lost megabucks because of it,” said Wanda Fatzinger, manager of Celio Paris, one of the stores Clinton visited. “Our side of the mall was closed. We couldn’t sell anything. But I think in the long run it helped.”

Rozanna Adzhinyan, store manager at Windsor Fashions in the mall, said the excitement died down after about a week. “People are not going to say, ‘I’m going to the mall because Clinton was here,’ ” she concedes. At the same time, she said, “I think it has a trademark to it. I mean, our President visited the mall. I think people who work here feel a lot better because he came here.”

And Fatzinger said that initial loss in business was worth it. “People come in and see that Clinton was here. There’s things I can do with it because I have pictures with him in the store, with our sign. That’s a lasting thing. That’s eternal. Even when he’s out of office, we still have this.”