After-Christmas Holiday Sales Brisk In Los Altos

After taking a respite on Christmas Day, droves of shoppers crowded Peninsula and Bay Area shopping centers Monday seeking post-holiday deals.

Retail analysts say the day after Christmas is typically one of the busiest shopping days of the year. And, taking no chances, many big Bay Area retailers enticed shoppers with mega-deals on clothing, gadgets and leftover holiday items.

While regional malls like Stanford in Palo Alto and Westfield Valley Fair in San Jose were crowded with hurried shoppers, local and neighborhood shopping districts also saw brisk sales, but at a slower pace.

In downtown Los Altos shoppers began to arrive at the outdoor Los Altos Village shopping district in mid-morning. The tree-lined streets are home to a collection of mostly independently-owned businesses including antique shops, clothiers, restaurants and coffee shops.

“Business is good, but it’s also a pretty calm day,” said Justin Hughes, the manager at Adventure Toys & Teachers’ Supplies on Main Street. Hughes, who has worked at the store 10 years, said there were no surprise after-Christmas crowds Monday, just a steady stream of customers. Enough to keep his staff busy all day.

Meanwhile, down the street hungry shoppers lined up at The Posh Bagel, and Le Boulanger bakery for sandwiches, drinks and treats. On nearby First Street, Draeger’s Market had a full house as shoppers filled the gourmet food aisles and inspected the many cooking and kitchen gadgets on sale.