It wasn't a banner-headline weekend, but customers kept our five retailers busy with purchases of everything from Legos to liquor.

King Arthur's Court Toys
               Traditional favorites such as Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys resonated with baby boomer customers at King Arthur's Court Toys, owner Miles Altman said. Games and puzzles in general are selling well for the Oakley retailer.

        Harry Potter Lego assembly kits are this year's stars, Mr. Altman said. Demand for these hot items helped bring a steady stream of customers into his shop.

        “We had a good weekend,” he said. “We are up about 5 percent Friday through Sunday versus the same weekend a year ago. Considering the current economic environment, all gains are good gains, though Sunday was a little soft.”

EDB Diamond Showroom
               Quiddich fanciers might have generated sales at King Arthur's, but football fans apparently kept one retailer from scoring big Sunday.

        “The Bengals were in town, and we open on Sunday from 12 to 5,” EDB's Diamond Showroom owner Eddie Lane said. “When there's a game, people don't have a chance to come in and see us. Our markets of Indian Hill and Montgomery support the Bengals.”

        Although shoppers stayed on the sidelines Sunday afternoon, sales were good at both stores Friday and Saturday.

Kilimanjaro
               What Titus Nzioki saw all week long were customers in his shop, Kilimanjaro African Art in Clifton. The ring of the cash register was a nice accompaniment to the recorded sounds of Ladysmith Black Mambazo

        “I saw a little bit of what I used to see, but hadn't seen much all year,” the Kenya native said. “I had repeat customers, and sales were up from last year.”

        The traffic pattern was a bit different, Mr. Nzioki said.

        “Saturday is usually our biggest day, and this week, it was not as big. But sales were spread out over the whole week pretty good. From now on, I'm looking for another good week and good weekend.”

Frontgate retail outlet
               Both sales and traffic are keeping folks at West Chester's Frontgate Catalog Outlet in a very merry mood.

        “We keep hearing that the luxury retail segment is suffering, but we don't see it,” Frontgate chief executive officer and president Paul Tarvin said. “Our full-price sales are running far ahead of our forecast.“

        Mr. Tarvin theorizes that word-of-mouth advertising for the upscale catalog and outlet store is bringing more customers in this season.

        “We're seeing more people from outside the Cincinnati area: from Lexington and Louisville as well as people from up north who are driving south on (Interstate) 75.”

The Party Source
               Those planning to entertain are upping the ante on holiday libations, said John Stiles, general manager at the Party Source in Bellevue. He has noticed a definite upswing in the quality of beverages his customers take home.

        But Mr. Stiles isn't celebrating yet. Although business was healthy this weekend, he said, it didn't set records. He thinks his store's best days are ahead.

        “We did pretty well. We're just slightly under sales and traffic counts from last year.” ”

        Enquirer reporters John Eckberg and Jim McNair contributed to this report.

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