Downtown Vendors See Sales Spike Over Easter Weekend

El Pasoans know they can count on downtown vendors to offer up some great shopping deals. Downtown vendors know they can count on out-of-town guests to beef up their sales during holiday weekends. Easter is no exception.

“We definitely buy more on Easter because of the kids,” said California resident Irma Bustillos, who was visiting downtown El Paso Sunday afternoon. “I think a lot of people come to shop here because of the lower prices.”

Shop owner Noemi Gonzalez told ABC-7 the shoe store she works in saw a 70 percent spike in sales starting Friday. She said most of her customers had been Mexican nationals from Ciudad Juarez.

“They are definitely important to us,” said Gonzalez. “Sunday has been a little slower than the other two days, though.”

ABC-7 crews noticed the slump too. Sidewalks were packed early Sunday afternoon, but stores closed up shop by 4 p.m.

Despite the early closing time, tourists like Rosario de Sigales from Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez said there were still plenty of incentives to hit the stores. “The exchange rate is pretty stable,” said de Sigales.

What isn’t so stable is the situation in her hometown. She said she would rather do all her shopping in El Paso. “I feel more safe. We don’t really go out too often (in Juarez).”