For Linda Henry's Karma Konsignment, business has been slow -- not a good position to be in for a start-up business owner. On some days, the upscale women's clothing and accessories boutique on Irwin Street could be quite busy. But on most days, only a dozen people walk in the door during the day.

"It's been rough for everybody," Henry said. "I just try my best rotating my stock, doing the word-of-mouth advertising and keeping the money in the store."

Things aren't so bad for Miller's Jewelry on Seventh Street, says Kathleen Silva, an attendant at the 50-year-old establishment.

"We've been busy," Silva said. "We have a lot of loyal customers. People know that if they come to Miller's, they'll get a good deal. We hold a unique place in this town."

Downtown Hanford businesses are feeling varied effects of the slumping economy, but it has taken its toll. The recession has been palpable, as businesses began closing doors in the last several months.

A wine shop quietly went away, and so did the cigar lounge. A Mexican restaurant and bar and the French bakery, too, have recently closed their doors. Vacancies are noticeable throughout downtown.

"The merchants are concerned, and certainly I'm concerned," said Pam Madill, director of Main Street Hanford, a city-funded downtown Hanford booster. "We're not alone. Other downtowns in Paso Robles, Monterey, Pacific Grove are also suffering vacancies."

With the organization of Main Street in 2001 and the city takeover of Courthouse Square in 2004, the historic downtown business district in Hanford has enjoyed a re-birth of its kind, recapturing the vibrancy. The recent bout of vacancies may be a setback for its revitalization effort, but Main Street remains hopeful as it steps up on its downtown promotion this holiday season.

Would a more festive downtown help turn people's attention from gloomy economic news to holiday wish lists? Madill certinly hopes so.

Christmas wreathes and lanterns have already been put up over downtown streets to brighten up the buildings for the holidays. Businesses have also quickly switched gears from Halloween to Christmas in their displays, getting ready for upcoming holiday events.

"We're hoping for the best, knowing, however, that times are bad right now," Madill said. "We're keepng our fingers crossed."

Downtown has its Christmas parade, a day-after-Thanksgiving tradition, as well as the visitor agency's fire truck tours and carousel rides.

But Main Street has more attractions in store:

The group puts on "Four Nights of Christmas," a relatively new event where participating downtown businesses offers longer opening hours on four Thursdays beginning Nov. 20. The event will skip Nov. 27, Thanksgiving but will resume on Dec. 4. Shops will open late on Dec. 11 as well as Dec. 18.

One of those nights will coincide with the annual "Wine and Chocolate" event on Dec. 4, when downtown merchants will host an elegant offering of fine wine and sumptupous desserts in an attempt to cheer up consumers and put them in the mood for shopping downtown. Tickets are on sale at participating downtown businesses and Main Street.

"The number one thing is to bring people here and expose them to our downtown while promoting downtown businesses," Madill said.

In addition, Main Street's economic restructuring committee is considering posting a vacancy listing on its Web site as part of a new effort to lure potential tenants, Madill said.

Meanwhile, business owners remain optimistic despite the bleak economic environment.

"People can say all they want, but we still can't find parking around here," Silva said. "Somebody must be shopping here."

Henry, who bought out a downtown boutique and moved from the Fox Theatre to the current location in April, was upbeat about her business.

"We have good days and bad days. But that's how it is downtown. You can't predict it, so you just have to go with it," Henry said. "I'm hopeful. I come to work everyday, turn on the light and say, 'Let's go for it.'"

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Nov. 24, 2008)