Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-23
Stores Report
Variable Sales
AS Buses Roll
Officials Divided
On Strike Effect;
Will Wuit and See

Will Wuit and See
Downtown Washington busi-
nesmen today were divided on
the effect Of yesterdays resump-
ton of transit service on bust
ness. -.
Some considered it a good day.
others rated it slow.
The big question to which the
businessmen are seeking an an
swer is: Have the habits Of the
public changed due to the, Cap
|ital Transit strike?
It's too early yet to detect a
pattern, the businessmen say. At
least a week will be necessary to
set this stage.
There were more pedestrians
downtown yesterday than during
the strike, businessmen observed.
And some of them dug into their
jeans and spent money. 81
Transit patronage Is admit
tedly down, but Downtown Park
and Shop, the cooperative pro-
gram in which merchantsAand
parking operators share, is an-
ming a boost, as yet undisclosed.
to spur downtown business.
| No special sales are yet on the
horizon to try to capture more
of the consumers dollar. But
promotion is something one does
not talk about to competitors.
U. 1. Pay Helpful
A highly important factor in
the Washington area economy,
which some think has not been
sufficiently stressed. is the retro
active pay received by Federal
workers from the increase APP
proved by Congress.
DR.. Jerome p. Packard, re-
search director, Washington
Board Of Trade, said the effects
of the transit strike were not as
great because Of this boost at a
time Of business shrinkage. This
money in the hands Of the con-
sumner is what kept UP depart
ment store business in July. he
believes.
It Is unofficially estimated that
Federal retroactive pay checks
in the Washington area totaled
about $25 million. Most Of these
were distributed in July and a
few at the beginning Of this
month.
! The downtown merchants are
hopeful that part Of this money
will be spent in their stores, now
that the housewife can get into
the heart Of the city by public
transportation again.
| Downtown stores will be open
Saturdays from now on. Gen
orally this will be from ESQ a m,
Ito 6 PM. except on Thursdays,
when the hours are 1890 pm
to 8 pm.
/ Businessmen Speak
Here's how top businessmen
viewed yesterdays business:
Philip M. Talbot. senior vice
president of Woodward & Lo-
throp, chairman Of the large
stores group, Merchants q
Manufacturers Association, and
president of the National Re-
tail Dry Goods Association:
1--WE just sneaked over the
line. Our stores business was
slightly better than the CORE
spending day a year ago. But II
was substantially better than IL
would have been had the strike
been on.
There were more people
downtown than on a normal
Monday. We are now back into
a normal full-time week. The
coming Saturday. we would be
open anyway.
/ I'VE are now back into q
normal stride, hoping that toc
many people did not get accus-
toned to other habits during the
strike. There is nothing spec
tacular about our plans or an
ticipations. Being open on Sat
urdays enabled us to have better
business. I hope the whole econ
omy will now adjust itself to
the strike being over. /"
/ Trend Not Apparent
Arthur J. Sundlun. chairman,
Ijewelry division, Merchants &
Manufacturers Association:
Our store had a fairly active
day yesterday. But it is diff
cult to say whether the resump-
Ition Of the transit service Is YET
an important factor. During
the strike, we had days as active
If not more so. than yesterday.
zone days experience is moi
sufficient to give the answer
Perhaps We ought to have 9
|, weeks experience.
1 I'VE are planning no special
sales. The jewelry group does
not run promotions like depart
!. ment stores do"
Charles Kotzin. chairman
women's wear division. Mer.
chants g. Manufactures Asso.
citation:
1--WE had a general pickup yes.
lterday in traffic in our store and
a slight pickup in dollar volume
There were more people down.
town. Unquestionably, the strike
did cut down on downtown pc.
destrian traffic.
Some Of the stores have de-
layed their fall promotions. due
to the strike Some are now
promoting and others have moi
yet started.
1--WE are very happy the strike
Lis over. I feel all businessmen