MAHONING VALLEY Area malls report sales fluxes

YOUNGSTOWN -- The Eastwood Mall is reporting slower sales in the wake of last week's terrorists attacks, while other area malls say shopping levels are back to normal.
Ken Kollar, manager of the Niles mall, said traffic and sales picked up over the weekend but remain lower than normal.
"We're strong enough to endure a few weeks of bad sales," he said.
He said many people just aren't in the mood for shopping because of the attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
Life will return to normal, though, as people realize they have to move forward, he said.
Other areas: John Brautigam, manager of the Southern Park Mall in Boardman, said crowds were actually larger than normal this past weekend because of disaster-related events there. The American Red Cross, Second Harvest Foodbank and other agencies held events to raise awareness and to collect money for victims.
The events drew some people out to the mall who didn't shop, but many did, he said.
He said sales last week were typical for the week after students return to school.
Joe Lipo, marketing director at the Shenango Valley Mall in Hermitage, said sales were off the day of the attacks but returned to normal the next day. Crowds were normal over the weekend, he said.
All three mall officials said keeping visitors safe is the top concern.
Kollar said Eastwood officials reviewed disaster plans with security guards and instructed them to be on higher alert. The guards were asked to be more aware of their surroundings and watch for things such as packages left in suspicious places, he said.