Business Report: Slow Sales in Hampton Bays for Black Friday Weekend

While shoppers were out in droves at Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead this past weekend, waiting on lines at Coach and Sony outlets, Hampton Bay businesses said that Main Street was relatively empty.

"I have a sale going on with 20 to 50 percent off everything, but there is no one in town so it doesn't help," said Cindy Berding, owner of in Hampton Bays.

"I think people are going to the malls and are forgetting about the small business people," said Berding.

Berding, who usually sells lots of sweaters and cardigans during the holidays, says she is hoping that as the month wears on, business will pick up.

"I do most of my holiday business the last week before Christmas," she said.

Bill Dienzer, manager of , agreed that the main stretch of commerce in Hampton Bays didn't exactly buzz with activity on Black Friday. However, Dienzer said he expects things to pick up as the shopping season winds down. 

"We do a lot of last-minute sales.  By far, hands-down our biggest sales come right before Christmas," said Dienzer.

"Black Friday doesn't mean a whole lot to us," said Dienzer, who said that during the holidays he sells a lot of treats and goodies for pets.

Mark Schumacher, owner of s, said he spent most of the weekend down in his "dark" basement, working on restoration projects.

"Black Friday, as far as I know it, is for big giant malls and big bulk stores. People aren't shopping here. Traffic has been light," said Schumacher.

Like at Erika's and Hampton Bays Pet Supply, Schumacher says most of his holiday business is conducted in the last two weeks before Christmas.  

"We sell a lot of gift certificates, guitars and ukuleles," said Schumacher.  

Until the customers come, Schumacher says he will be busy working on restoring instruments and tuning pianos. 

"I do a lot of piano tuning this time of year," said Schumacher.  

While December is also the busiest month for Frank Silecchia, owner of Maria's Hallmark, he said he didn't have "a thousand people outside or 500 people in the store at the same time" on Black Friday.

"Most of the people in the area go out to the larger stores for Black Friday sales," said Silecchia.

During the holiday's Silecchia says he tends to sell a little of everything, from toys and crafts to housewares to holiday decorations, fake trees and holiday greeting cards.