By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. —Hutchinson Chamber President Debra Teufel says, for the most part, shopping in the downtown area was good.
Teufel says many businesses reported a good Christmas shopping season. Some had great shopping. One of them was Westphal Jewelers. Owner Dick Westphal said that, after his business had to close in the spring, he wasn't sure how it would recover. Westphal says starting around September, business picked up rapidly and continued through the Christmas shopping season.
Westphal noted that it was more like in the past when residents from areas west of Hutchinson would come to shop and not go to Wichita. He noted that this Christmas was probably twice what it was last year. Westphal says that people wanted something nice for the holiday and many told him they were rededicating their efforts to support local businesses.
Sugartime Confections was another very busy place. With a treat called "cocoa bombs," the business has been so busy that owner Malynda Pearl has had to work hard to keep up with demand. The business offers many other sweet treats as well.
Teufel says that Mark Buckley at Toy Depot has also been busy. The nostalgia toy shop has always been popular during Christmas, but has been very busy again this year.