Evening star., 1942-03-20
STAR WASHINGTON G, FRIDAY MARCH 90
Stores Report Sales
Al YuIe Volume in
Night Opening Test
Merchants und Customers
Like Plan; One Manager
Calls Business Terrific

Washington's downtown stores
closed their doors last night on the
first Thursday night shopping
period. convinced the experiment
was q success and should be con-
tinued for the duration Of the war
as q special service to customers.
Last nights sales were reported
as highly pleasing and some Of the
stores reported activity that equalled
the Christmas rush.
A poll Of leading firms today
brought the opinion that one night
. week will meet present needs.
Some managers said the experiment
Is too new for the question to be
answered definitely and that expert
ence may show a need for extending
the plan.
Customers, q majority Of them
Government workers accustomed to
hasty shopping during their lunch
period, also seemed unanimous in
their approval Of the new move.
Some were convinced the need al
ready exists for stores to remain
open more than one night week.
Sidewalks Jammed.
Last nights rush began before 6
pm. and continued until the clos
ing hour of 8 pm. Sidewalks along
the downtown area, particularly
those along F, G and Seventh
streets, NV, were jammed, and
police reported traffic in some blocks
was much heavier than during the
rush periods Of the day.
Joseph c. McGarraghy, chairman
of the Board of Trades special COM
mittee on war adjustments, said he
was convinced the plan was a great
benefit.
"The great number Of people who
took advantage Of the opportunity
to shop last night is evidence of the
need for such a plan." he said I'VE
are more than satisfied with the first
nights results"
Trade and business associations
made their checks in some instances
while shopping was in progress.
@. w. Turner, vice president of
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association, Inc, said members Of
his group were heartily in favor of
the idea.
They all reported the move was
definite success" he said. The
public responded heartily and the
night-shopping period should con-
tinue"
Business Rivals Christmas"
The manager of one Of the largest
department stores in the city, re-
porting business that was lust like
Christmas" said his store was "as
crowded as 1t could be-"
TT was terrific" he added. I'VE
were surprised to find a rush in
sales from the very hour we opened
at 1890 pm. There were from 300
to 1000 persons waiting at the doors
at that time. The comment of
customers while they were shopping
last night showed their delight In
the new service"
Another department store mana
ger said last nights crowd was far
beyond what we expected"
I'VE had crowds all evening"" he
said. "It is apparent the late shop
ping hours meet . very important
need"
Commented another: "The ex-
pertinent has revealed an excellent
spirit in this time of emergency, one
that believe will grow as time ad-
vances"
In voicing their opinion con-
cerning the need for more than one
night Of shopping each week. some
managers pointed out that last
night was not fair test of the aver
age experience and that only sue
ceeding weeks will enable an accu-
rate conclusion to be reached. They
explained that one Of the most i'm
portant steps in an experiment of
this kind is to educate the public to
the change.
IF We remained open until mid
night we would have some business
up until the last minute even on
that long an extension" pointed out
one Of them. THE public should be
urged to do its shopping In the
three hours now provided and then,
If that doesn't suffice, we can initiate
steps for a further extension"