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Merry Christmas for local retailers

HOUGHTON – Holiday business has been good for two of the newest downtown retailers in Houghton and Hancock, and things have been good at a historic hardware store, too.

“It’s been beyond what we’d hoped, more than we could ever dream,” said Trudy Williamson, one of 33 vendors with goods on display at Urban Rustics, which brought its mix of antique, vintage and other items to Shelden Avenue in Houghton this fall.

Williamson said sales have nearly tripled since the move, and store owner Grace Backman agreed things have been going great in the new location.

“We’re happy to be downtown,” she said.

Urban Rustics also gave the city a Christmas present, filling a main street storefront that’s been vacant for years, the former McDonald’s building.

Overall, American retailers are expected to take in about $630 billion in holiday spending in 2015, according to National Retail Federation projections, about $22 billion more than in 2014. Spending on gifts, however is projected to decrease to $594 billion, a billion less than last year.

Holiday spending accounts for nearly 20 percent of Americans’ annual spending, according to NRF stats. Here, some small downtown businesses appear to be getting at pretty good slice of the pie.

A couple blocks east from Urban Rustics up Shelden Avenue, Swift True Value Hardware manager Mary Smith said sales figures aren’t in yet, but foot traffic has been good.

Mrs. Meyers and Caldrea body-care products have been big sellers this year.

“A lot of woman’s stuff,” she said. “And the toys, of course, Melissa and Doug.”

Shovels, she said, aren’t selling so well this year, but Swift has been moving a few sleds despite the mild winter.

On the other side of the Portage Waterway, K.C. Bonkers coffee shop and toy store has been the rage for the young and the young-at-heart, with cyberpunk baristas, unique caf? games and hard-to-find toys.

On Wednesday, one of Bonkers “misfits” juggled and goofed on the crowd, while Walt Disney’s Queen Elsa, from “Frozen,” discussed princess etiquette with younger ladies and posed for pictures.

Queen Elsa said she’d come to town to see a good friend, Katie Zutter.

There’s been a lot of foot traffic at Bonkers, the numbers so far have been about as expected, “but I didn’t know it would be so fun,” said Bonkers co-owner Adrienne Hillman.

Team member Kelsey Carriere reported a few toys had sold out, but there was still a great selection. Staffers reported top sellers included wind-up toys, spirographs and Copper Country the Board Game, which is based on the region’s history and has separate sides for summer and winter play.

Urban Rustics will be open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Christmas Eve., Swift True Value from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. K.C. Bonkers is closed for the holiday.

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