Corona del Mar is hoping its annual Christmas Walk will inspire attendees to open up their wallets again this year.
During the Dec. 6 Christmas Walk, which takes place alongside the Corona del Mar stretch of Pacific Coast Highway, businesses and stores entice customers with special promotions and food.
The free event—in its 31st year—has live bands, carolers and the popular beer and wine garden.
The Newport Beach Fire Department grills and sells hot dogs.
“It’s such a tradition now,” said Linda Leonhard, president of the Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the event with the local businesses. “People throw brunch parties at their houses and walk down together.”
About 6,000 people attended last year.
Leonhard, who is the organizer of the event, says there will be 10 local bands, which will play in parking lots along Pacific Coast Highway. Some of the bands include Newport Beach-based Pinch Me, which plays 1960s to modern music, and Huntington Beach’s Nocturnes, a surf band.
Santa will be there and the Marine Corps Reserve will be collecting toys in their annual Toys for Tots drive.
Always a boon to local restaurants and shops, the Christmas Walk takes on an even greater importance this year as many retailers have been hit by slowed spending.
Corona del Mar, in particular, saw a drop-off in spending after a number of mortgage brokerages there closed up shop amid the financial collapse.
That empty space is slowly being taken by businesses, including B.B. Simon boutique, Curves women’s gym and a Verizon Wireless store.
There are about 400 businesses in Corona del Mar that mostly serve the local community.
The chamber doesn’t track sales from the event, which costs about $25,000 to put on.
The local businesses, part of a business improvement district, help pay for the event.
Businesses in the Corona del Mar improvement district pool their money to pay for things that affect the business area as a whole, such as the Christmas Walk.
The improvement district, which has an annual budget of $120,000, also pays for the street holiday decorations.
“The Christmas Walk is the event of the year according to everyone,” said Scott Palmer, who heads up the Corona del Mar business improvement district.
New Store
Kiy Sams and Janelle Milne, co-owners of Kovet Boutique in Corona del Mar, opened another store this month in San Clemente.
It would seem counterintuitive to open a store in a down economy, but the same depressed economy makes leasing a good deal, according to the pair.
“We had an epiphany—either throw in the towel or go all out,” Sams said. “We’ve decided we’re in this for the long haul.”
Sales have been slow this year, she said.
“Right now, it’s very lackluster,” she said.
But the opportunity in San Clemente was too good to pass up, she said, as a slow real estate market allowed them to find a good deal on a new lease.
The new store will be 300 square feet.
Kovet sells clothing and accessories including those from brands Iro, Mesop and Grey Ant.
Sams and Milne haven’t been able to get business loans, since they haven’t been in business for the two years. They’ve funded their business through frugal saving. They also work on the side.
Milne is a waitress and Sams is a photographer.
Gift Cards
A note on Simon malls gift cards. While fees have been lifted for the recipients of gift cards, there will be an upfront fee for the buyer. Fees range from $2.95 to $6.95, depending on the denomination.
Simon Property Group malls include Laguna Hills Mall, Brea Mall, Westminster Mall, The Block at Orange and The Shops at Mission Viejo.
Car Enthusiast’s Paradise
TruSpeed MotorCars has joined Crevier Classic Cars LLC in a 30,000-square-foot Costa Mesa warehouse that’s a fancy storage area for vintage, muscle and classic cars—in short a car enthusiast’s paradise.
TruSpeed, which set up shop at Crevier Classic Cars in July, sells Porsche models, specifically air-cooled models prior to 1998. It also sells newer models and services Porsches.
The cars sell from $35,000 to as much as $135,000.
“It’s been a great marriage for us,” said Jim Clark, who manages Crevier Classic Cars.
Car collector Donnie Crevier, who owns the business, also owns Santa Ana’s Crevier BMW.
“I don’t know of another building in the county that would be more interesting to a car enthusiast,” Clark said.
