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Sweetheart deals for local businesses
Feb 13, 2012 (The Journal-Register - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --
Local retailers will have a lot to celebrate this Valentine's Day, but the joy will be mixed with exhaustion on what promises to be a busy day of deliveries and panicked last-minute purchases.
The countdown to Valentine's Day has been seen in an increasing amount of orders at candy stores and flower shops; more foot traffic at retailers selling cards, candles and other Valentine's Day favorites and more calls for reservations at area restaurants.
It will crescendo Tuesday with an all-day delivery of presents.
"Every day it's been more and more orders," said Pam Anstey of Case-Nic Cookies Wednesday, a few days before the Main Street store turns into a sweet-shipping rush that's reminiscent of the famous candy factory episode of 'I Love Lucy.' "We have one or two people picking up and delivering cookies and balloons all day. We'll have people getting orders together and the counters will be full."
A few blocks away, Della's Chocolates is turning out more and more chocolates for personalized gift boxes. The Main Street business has more than two dozen varieties of sweets that can be mixed and matched in four-, seven-, 16- and 25-piece boxes, owner Susan Fuller said Saturday.
"We want to make sure we have what people are looking for," which Fuller said could be difficult. "Some people are specific, others don't know what they are looking for."
At Rosenkrans Pharmacy, Kelsey Allen said many of the customers she cashed out Saturday were on a mission -- getting cards and chocolates. Allen said she was surprised to see so many men picking up gifts on the weekend. "I thought they'd come at the last minute," Allen said.
Bloom's Flower Shop started filling coolers with pre-ordered bouquets Saturday, but designer Wes Hansen said the Albion merchant is prepared for late shoppers.
"It will be harder to get what you want the later you come, but we'll have flowers right up until the end," said Hansen, who has seen more advance shopping this year. "We still get people who come in on Feb. 14 saying 'I should get something, huh?' "
Chef Michael Zambito of Zambistro said he expects to get some calls late on Tuesday looking for reservations. That's preferable to having the holiday on the weekend, when the restaurant is already busy.
"A majority of the reservations for two are on Tuesday, but we'll be busy all week," Zambito said. "We'll take it on a weekday every time."
___ (c)2012 The Journal-Register (Medina, N.Y.) Visit The Journal-Register
(Medina, N.Y.) at www.journal-register.com Distributed by MCT Information
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