CHILLING AT THE MALL\ PATRONS SEEK RELIEF FROM THE HEAT.Byline: JULIA M. SCOTT Staff Writer Triple-digit temperatures are pushing Los Angeles' grid to the brink and sending electric bills soaring, but retailers aren't complaining. Malls are packed with people hoping for a dose of free air-conditioning, and many are leaving some of their money behind during what is normally retail's snoozy summer season. ``Malls all over the country are doing fairly well,'' said Jack Kyser, chief economist The Chief Economist is a single position job class having primary responsibility for the development, coordination, and production of economic and financial analysis. It is distinguished from the other economist positions by the broader scope of responsibility encompassing the for the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Economic Development Corp. ``It may not be big-ticket items big-ticket item Managed care A popular term for an expensive therapeutic or diagnostic procedure but a lot of smaller impulse things.'' Whether sales gains will be enough to cover higher electric tabs remains to be seen. Utility bills could be ``an unexpected hit a little bit down the road,'' Kyser said. For the 20th consecutive day, the mercury hit triple digits in Woodland Hills at 106 degrees, with scorching scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. temperatures across Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , said National Weather Service specialist Stuart Seto. At Northridge Fashion Center Northridge Fashion Center is a large shopping mall located in Northridge, California. It opened in 1971. It was severely damaged during the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, but renovated extensively in 1995 and 1998. , sales of sunglasses sunglasses A tinted pair of glasses used to ↓ light arriving at the eye, which are labeled according to the amount of UV light blocked; nonprescription glasses are classified according to use and amount of UV radiation blocked Sunglasses at Farrah's Sunwear kiosk were booming, said Afsaneh Malekimojarab. ``There is a lot more business here because of the weather,'' Malekimojarab said as customers tested the shades, one pair for $12, two for $20. ``Saturday we made twice as much as we did the weekend before.'' Newly stocked fall clothes weren't moving as quickly at the Gap, but flip-flops and skirts were, said assistant manager Mateo McDaniels. Other retailers said folks were just browsing and sucking down chilled beverages at the food court. ``Business is not the reason people are coming to the mall,'' said Nash Freeman at his cell phone accessory kiosk. ``It's hot outside, cool in here. That's the only reason I see.'' Jeannine Andrade had that very idea Tuesday when she claimed a choice seat and pulled out crossword puzzles. The 70-year-old Northridge resident has ``a little'' air-conditioning at home but not enough to keep her cool. ``It's a good spot,'' Andrade said of the mall, pencil and puzzle book in hand. ``Nice comfy com·fy adj. com·fi·er, com·fi·est Informal Comfortable. comfy Adjective [-fier, -fiest] Informal comfortable Adj. 1. chairs.'' julia.scott(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3736 CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Jeannine Andrade, 70, of Northridge works a crossword puzzle at Northridge Fashion Center to beat the heat. (2 -- color) Kids play indoors at the Northridge Fashion Center. People trying to keep cool during the three-week heat wave did a lot of looking -- and some buying -- at Valley malls. David Sprague/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion