This time last year snow pelted West Seattle and left some potential last-minute Christmas shoppers stranded at home. Others chose to walk to the ma & pa shops in the Alaska Junction as driving or bussing to the mall was not a safe or doable option. Some Junction merchants say they benefited from the storm, others say they suffered. However, all seem to believe that, despite the ubiquitous doom-and-gloom economic reports, spending is up this Christmas season, and, as of Tuesday, Dec. 22, report a last-minute surge in business.

Miles Abrams, owner, Rubato Records, specializing in new and used easy & hard-to-find records, CD’s, DVD’s and tapes, 4710 California Av.

“The very end of this season has been picking up. On Black Friday more people were at the malls. Then people that needed unique gifts, struggling to find something special, came out to smaller shops. I’m going to say definitely this year is better. Last year’s snow really hurt.”

Jack Menashe, Menashe and Sons Jewelers, 4532 California Av.

“Today is (just) the 22nd, and our numbers are up from all of last December. I attribute it to a local West Seattle following. People still saying they like to do business in their local community. The snow certainly did affect us. It was kind of fun because we saw more foot traffic since they couldn’t get out of West Seattle.”

Brian Low, Village Woodworks, wood furniture, accessories, 4538 California Av.

“This Christmas season has been better than last year’s. But this year overall there has been no improvement for us. When the economy is tighter people, buy for themselves. Instead of buying two pieces for each other they will buy one nice piece together.”

Katherine Detore, Owner, Antique Mall of West Seattle, 4516 California Av.

“Business was slow at the beginning of the season. It’s really been picking up and we’re up a little bit since last year. We have the eclectic gift you can’t find anywhere else. People go to the mall first, then come here. We have a lot of fun here with the customers, a lot of good humor in the shop.”

BJ Prokopof, owner, Brunette Mix, hair salon and unique handbags and gifts, 4306 SW Oregon St.

“This is our second anniversary and we had our biggest day ever last Saturday (Dec. 19.) Our salon receives 70- percent of our business, our front gift shop 30- percent.”

Diana Mucci, Clementine, shoe boutique and one-of-a-kind bags, 4447 California Av.

“I was here through the snow last year. The storm kind of saved us because buses weren’t running. Our business has been much better overall this October through December. Things are on the up. Our web sales are totally up. People order our shoes as far as the Netherlands, but a lot of our online sales come from California and the East Coast.”

Scott Law, owner, The Electric Train Shop, model trains, accessories, 4511 California Av.

“It’s been great. The main thing is because it didn’t snow this year. That was the killer last year, 10 days of snow before Christmas. This year we’re already ahead of last year’s December and it’s only Tuesday. People are spending.”

Janet Ramble, sales and artist, Wild Rose’s Antiques and Home Furnishings, 4529 California Av.

“We’re very pleased. Excellent. It’s been a very busy December. We’re very handy to reach. What we carry here is unique. We carry memorabilia, that evoke people’s childhoods.”

Heidi Fish, owner, Heidi Fish Designer Swimwear, 4519 California Av.

“It’s been great this year, especially in December, better than last year. Ladies, your man has been coming in to get a gift certificate. Typically January is my busiest month. People get tickets to travel to a great place for Christmas, and they blow Dodge in January. They go to Hawaii or Bahamas, so they find me locally and online.

“I created the ‘Anny Fanny’ line for ladies who are breast cancer survivors. People are showing a lot of interest in my updated 2010 line.”

Ann Walker, owner, Curious Kidstuff toy shop, 4740 California Av.

“It’s kind of hard to determine since I won’t know until the end of the year, but I can see we’re up a little bit from last year. We’re staying good and steady, and busy. A lot of specific toys are driven by television in mall shops for the mass market. But here a lot of customers come in and ask what is good for this age or that age. The classics are still popular, Lincoln logs, tinker toys, toys to build things.”

Joe, salesman, Easy Street Records, 4559 California Av.

“The snow killed us last year. We shut down for a couple of days. Business started out intense last Saturday (Dec. 19.) It was intense yesterday and today too.

Gregor Terjung, owner, Terjung’s Studio of Gifts, 4547 California Av.

“ We add it up at the end of the year, but we’re doing OK. We’ve been selling a lot of stocking stuffers, bigger toys, nutcrackers, and fresh-baked candies. Now we have a new magic corner. We’ve been here 40 years and always try to find something different. We’re lucky it’s not as bad (in Seattle) as some areas.”

Joe Ensley, owner, Zamboanga, handmade Indonesian and other gifts, 4531 California Av.

“We didn’t have a bad year last year. Enough people in neighborhood walked here in the snow. Business is much better than last year. We’re selling lots of hats and scarves, probably because it’s been so cold. I’ll be a happy camper on Friday.”