Mall adds shops during holidays

Kleine Equipment among favorites

Thursday, November 30, 2006

By JOHN R. PULLIAM

The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - From the Deere Gear store to BTS Bargains, a Bridgeway training center, 16 shops and kiosks will add variety to this year's holiday shopping experience at Sandburg Mall.

Beth DeJaynes, mall operations manager, said of the kiosks, "I think the customers will be pleased."

About half the holiday shops will be open every day from now until Christmas. One of those, Kleine Equipment's Deere Gear, is always a crowd-pleaser. The store offers garden and farm tractors, but smaller items are the big attraction. Toys, Christmas ornaments, clothes and other John Deere green favorites are usually a hit at the mall.

Deere Gear is inside a storefront, the former Stage store in the JCPenney court.

John Hawkins, director of marketing for Kleine Equipment, believes this is about the 10th year for Deere Gear.

"The ATVs seem to make good Christmas presents," Hawkins said. "The lawn and garden equipment are more for the future, (an example of) what we have to offer."

The toys seem to appeal to little future farmers and city kids, alike.

"Our toys are our biggest hit," Hawkins said. "It's what draws people to our store. The toys and the Christmas things."

Each year employees - all from Kleine Equipment's Galesburg location - see city folk, who know little about agriculture, having a good time learning what full-sized models of the toys do on the farm.

"For the lawn and garden equipment, it's good exposure for us for spring and summer sales," Hawkins said. "It gives them an opportunity to see what we have in a relaxed atmosphere and not be pressured."

He said husbands often come into the store and head straight to the tractors, lawn and garden equipment and large items, while wives and kids make a beeline to the toys, ornaments, and clothes.

DeJaynes said, in addition to Deere Gear, there are a number of businesses that are a Sandburg Mall holiday tradition.

"Persephone's Treasures has been here a number of years," DeJaynes said.

This is the first year the business, rather than being a kiosk, is in an "inline space," or storefront. Persephone's Treasures is in the old Fannie Mae Candies location. Grandpa's Weekend Hobby, Chasin' Rainbows and Inka Maki are regulars, while Cale's Collectibles is run by the daughter of the husband and wife who owned J and G, a long-time Sandburg Mall holiday business.

DeJaynes said she does not know of any holiday kiosk that has ever become a permanent business, although Kim's Avon is a non-holiday kiosk that is now located in the former McDonald's space.

DeJaynes hesitated when asked to name the most popular holiday businesses, not wanting to leave anyone out. But, "I think Persephone's Treasures is one that's asked about a lot because of the fireball beads," she said. "This year, I think Creative Accents has really done a good job bringing in painted pictures. ... We have really nice displays."

On the Net: www.sandburgmall.com

Other Kiosks and Displays

- Galesburg Lincoln-Mercury Nissan (storefront, JCPenney court).

- Grandpa's Weekend Hobby: (opens Friday, Kmart court) sports memorabilia, lamps, buckets, sports, T-shirts and more

- Inka Maki: (Kmart court) ponchos, sweaters, jewelry, clay items and more.

- Sears Portrait Studio: (Sears court) photo display.

- Soo-Ah Flower Co. and Gifts: (storefront, center court), flower arrangements, vases, hand-painted antique furniture, statutes, and more.

- Abingdon Home Solutions: (Bergner's court) bathtub display.

- Buff Portrait Studio: (Bergner's court) photo display.

- Creative Home Accents: (Sears court) jewelry, painted mirrors, soy candles, candle figurines and more.

- Home Interiors: (Kmart court, Dec. 15-24), Home Interior products.

- Mystical Creations 4 You: (Kmart court, Dec. 8-10), wine bottle covers, pouches for jewelry storage, gift bags and potpourri.

- Persephone's Treasures: (Inline space, center court, Friday-Sunday; Dec. 8-10, 15-24), Fireball beads, bracelets, necklaces, sequined purses and hats.

- BTS Bargains: (Inline space, Sears court, Dec. 15-17), furniture, toys, electronics, household items and more.

- Cale's Collectibles: (Kmart court, Dec. 16 and 17), NASCAR merchandise.

- Chasin' Rainbows: (Inline space, center court, Friday-Sunday, Dec. 8-10, 15-24, 29-31), seasonal/holiday items, wooden/metal signs, kitchen accessories, children's travel games, toys and more.

- Beavers was in Kmart court Nov. 24-26.