Retailers

Retailers are bracing for a tough holiday shopping season in which sales figures in the region could decline as shoppers continue to weather an economic storm that has torpedoed personal spending, analysts said Monday. National and local organizations project a 1% to 4% drop in usual holiday sales figures, which could sink profit margins at regional malls including the Americana at Brand, Glendale Galleria and Burbank Town Center. “We think that the region is looking forward to a rather dismal Christmas,” said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.

BURBANK — Retailers are bracing for a tough holiday shopping season in which sales figures in the region could decline as shoppers continue to weather an economic storm that has torpedoed personal spending, analysts said Monday. National and local organizations project a 1% to 4% drop in usual holiday sales figures, which could sink profit margins at regional malls including the Americana at Brand, Glendale Galleria and Burbank Town Center. “We think that the region is looking forward to a rather dismal Christmas,” said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp.

BURBANK — Local and national retail agents reported robust sales during the first weekend of holiday shopping, leaving city officials pleased with Burbank’s economy, despite a lingering writers strike and housing downturn. “Friday and Saturday were great,” Burbank Town Center General Manager Alan Osadchey said. “Traffic was much heavier than last year and, if this is any indication, we’re looking forward to a strong holiday sales period.” The mall opened early the day after Thanksgiving for Black Friday, a day retailers hoped to improve their bottom-line sales figures by moving out from the red and into healthier profit margins.

GLENDALE — Mervyns, whose three-story retail outlet has been a fixture at the Glendale Galleria for a quarter century, announced Friday that it will close its remaining 149 stores throughout California and the Southwest. The move will not only affect the 101 S. Brand Blvd. location in Glendale but will also result in the closure of the Burbank store at 245 E. Magnolia Blvd., company officials said. In a release, Mervyns Chief Executive John Goodman said the massive closure, expected to take place after the holiday season, comes amid increasing challenges to its operations after repeated attempts to keep its branches open.

Customers across the region Friday took advantage of deep discounts at big-name retail outlets and smaller stores throughout Glendale and Burbank during one of the traditionally busiest shopping days of the year. Officials at clothing stores, electronic shops and the area’s biggest malls largely proclaimed the day a success, expecting to beat estimates from economists who predicted sluggish after-Christmas sales. Though sales figures were not immediately available, Jennifer Gordon, a spokeswoman for Caruso Affiliated, which runs the Americana, said the mall figures to build on what has already been a successful holiday shopping season.

BURBANK — The City Council on Tuesday approved the renewal of a nonprofit partnership between the city and an association of property owners to revitalize the downtown shopping district. The council voted 4 to 1 in favor of renewing the Downtown Burbank Property-Based Business Improvement District, with Councilman David Gordon casting the lone dissenting vote. Since its inception in July 2003, the district’s stores have increased retail sales and property values by a combined 70%, according to a staff report.

Volunteers teamed up with kids Tuesday morning in Burbank and Glendale to help them buy new shoes, clothes and supplies for school at Target. The fourth annual shopping spree at the Empire Center was part of a partnership between Target and the Salvation Army, for which the national retailer gives $1 million in gift cards for 12,000 children and teens. Each participant was given an $80 gift card to spend in one hour with Disney employees and members of Burbank Sunrise Rotary and Noon Kiwanis.

BURBANK — Splurging on a pastry in the morning just got a little healthier in Burbank. This month, Starbucks stores in Glendale, Burbank and Los Angeles were among the first in the nation to drop trans-fat ingredients from their food menus. And for those who rely on the company's menu to get through the morning, change is good. "I usually get something here every day on my way to work, so a little less fat is good," Los Angeles resident Nery Maldonado said as she left Starbucks on Glendale Avenue.

The Burbank City Council this week cleared the way for Walmart to open a new store near the Empire Center, leaving opponents with few options other than legal action to stop the world's largest retailer from moving in. On Tuesday, more than 100 people - bolstered by the support of labor unions - rallied outside City Hall and then crammed into the council chambers to protest the planned Walmart. The show of opposition failed to sway city officials, who say zoning codes allow the Walmart to open so there's little they can do. Opponents have been trying to force Walmart to conduct an economic impact review and the city to carry out major improvements to road infrastructure around the former Great Indoors site before approving the building plans.