We understand like everyone else they have choices. And, what we ve done is bring that kind of shopping to the border. Before Sunrise Mall was redone and the restaurants added, they just passed by on their way to San Antonio and Austin. While Sunrise Mall and the growth area near the mall are attracting the big crowds, shopkeepers in Amigoland Mall, the numerous strip malls and downtown Brownsville report increased business, too. Sales are expected to increase 25 percent this weekend as compared to other weekends, said Val Champion, manager of Amigoland Mall.
Customer loyalty is one of the big reasons our stores are expecting a good weekend.
There s maybe a million people here and across the river in Matarmoros and a lot of them have been shopping at Amigoland Mall for a long time. While storekeepers in downtown are mixed about sales, most agree the crowds are larger and most customers appear to have more money to spend than in the past. The downtown merchants look forward to Mexican holidays as much as those we celebrate in the U.S., said Peter Goodman, manager of Brownsville s Historic Downtown District. It s too early to place a monetary figure on everything, but I haven t heard a lot of complaints. Most of the folks are telling me it s pretty good.