Seasonal shops sprouting up in Galleria

Gretchen Hoffman

As shoppers get a head start on the post-Thanksgiving rush,

temporary retailers are sprouting up in the Glendale Galleria hoping

to take advantage of the holiday spirit of giving.

Among the seasonal shops returning for the second straight year

are The Holiday Store and Hickory Farms.

Hickory Farms shut down all of its permanent stores last years and

relies on a toll-free number and online sales to supplement the

holiday rush, Manager Lila Burns said.

“Hickory Farms does 95% of the business during the holiday

season,” she added. “That’s the time of the year that people buy our

products.”

The Holiday Store does no advertising beyond the displays in their

storefront windows and a display in an outer window of the Galleria.

“The trees in the window are what bring people in,” store operator

Fred Huguez said. “We kind of rely on the mall itself, on the

reputation of the Galleria itself.”

Huguez said he expects about 500,000 shoppers to come through the

doors between now and when the shop closes Jan. 1.

Christmas displays drive many shoppers into the stores, including

Robert Guillen, who works in Glendale. Guillen said he will probably

do most of his holiday shopping at the Galleria, both in the

temporary stores for specialty gifts and with the year-round

retailers.

“I’m a Christmas freak,” Silver Lake resident Teresa Hagerman

said. “I collect Christmas.”

Other stores, such as Pro Image and Honey Du’s, are operating

under “temporary” status but haven’t narrowed out making it a

permanent arrangement.

“We’re going to take advantage of the holidays,” said Norma

Lozano, assistant manager of Pro Image. “That’s when you know if

you’re capable for doing business.”

Other seasonal stores include Downlow Bungalo, which offers

clothing for men and women, and Forever Flowers, which features

synthetic and silk flowers and live plants.