Central Oregon businesses anticipate big weekend

For the first time in years, the two days before Christmas fall on a weekend.

Usually, people are working in the days before Christmas, but this time around, they’ll be free to do some last-minute shopping.

Shops in downtown Bend are looking toward what they see as a huge weekend — one shop even said it could be its biggest ever.

As far as the first part of the holiday shopping season, businesses said the shop local atmosphere of Bend meant they did not get outpaced by big brands, even on days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Still, they’re excited for what the weekend could mean for business.

“We’re right on par with last year, but coming into the weekend, I think we’re probably going to break that, for sure,” Ju-Bee-Lee manager Michelle Finan said Friday.

“Our ‘shop local’ folks have been fabulous,” Leapin’ Lizards Toys owner Suzy Reininger said. “Our Shop Small (Business) Saturday was our biggest ever, and then Cyber Monday, we had a great day.”

Last-minute shoppers also see a big opportunity this weekend.

“This is totally last-minute,” frantic shopper Jennifer Moore said. “It’s the first minute. It’s the first time I’ve been Christmas shopping, and tomorrow will be the last. Christmas really snuck up on me this year, and I’ve got two days to get it all done.”