By Emma Bouthillette 

Staff Writer

While businesses in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport admit February is a slow month for sales, owners are remaining optimistic for the upcoming summer season. 

Nature’s Gifts on York Street in Kennebunk has been open for 16 months, and owner Amy Allenwood said people are still finding her beyond the cluster of Main Street shops. 

“Opening to start with was hard, but in this economic climate is really really hard. I hesitate to say we’re doing OK, we are, but we aren’t doing great,” Allenwood said. “If we were to quit now, we’d never know if it would work. We have to find a way and ride it out.”

Scalawags, a pet boutique tucked in the Shops at Union Square in Kennebunkport, is the only business in the complex of gray buildings that is currently open. Owner Mary Beth Kvaka said with other tenants closed for the winter, she tries to put out balloons or a stuffed dog statue to signal to shoppers the store is open weekends.

“It’s slower than last year, but I think a lot of that is weather driven,” Kvaka said. 

Between cold weather and snow banks around Dock Square, she said people have been staying in. With spring around the corner and improving weather, Kvaka said she hopes to see day-trippers or even people with “cabin fever” just trying to get out. 

“The economy was bad last year, but people were tired of holding back and they came in once the weather turned around. It’s just making it through this hump,” Kvaka said. 

Glenna Turner, owner of Beach Grass in Dock Square, said warm weather and sunny skies last weekend brought day-trippers to her shop of beach and summer-inspired household goods. 

“Hopefully we’ve laid the foundation that Kennebunkport is a good vacation spot so we still have people come,” Turner said.

Time Out for Comics owner Ahmad Ciagiulli said he relies on mail and online orders. After running a comic book store in Queens, N.Y., for 14 years, Ciagiulli said  clients still order from him following his relocation to Main Street in Kennebunk in June. 

“I just need to figure out what customers like and try to tailor to their needs,” Ciagiulli said. 

Tracey Porell, owner of The Closet on Main Street Kennebunk, is tailoring her inventory to ever-changing fashion trends as well as dealing with the economy.  

“Jeans are some of the highest price points and that’s what is selling right now, but whenever I get a handle of things, it changes,” Porell said.

The Closet has been open for three years and Porell said January and February sales this year were definitely down in comparison to previous years. 

“I’m still getting people in and people coming are spending. I’m just not seeing as many people,” Porell said. 

Duffy’s Tavern and Grill just down the street has been seating a lot of customers since opening in October, owner David “Duffy” Cluff said.

“Things are going very well. We’re very fortunate,” Cluff said. “We found the right niche at the right time – good meals for a good price and a community atmosphere.”

After opening Duffy’s Tavern and Grill in October, Cluff publicly announced his resignation as Kennebunk deputy fire and emergency medical service chief on Jan. 19, citing the need to dedicate more time to the restaurant.

He said he is currently working with his landlord toward a possible expansion. 

While Duffy’s Tavern and Grill is new to the area, Federal Jack’s is a well-established Kennebunkport restaurant that stays open through the winter. Manager Meredith Ganz said the restaurant is “holding their own.”

 “We’re doing things we’ve never done before to get people out of their houses,” Ganz said, including offering pitchers of beer and pizza specials and adding a breakfast buffet and brunch on Sundays.

In anticipation of summer, Ganz said the staff at Federal Jack’s is “gearing up” just like they have in the past.

Another new business in Kennebunk, Toppings on York Street opened three months ago and owner Tony Dinakarakos said business has been “progressively improving.”

“Usually February is a slow month, but this has been the best week so far,” Dinakarakos said Feb. 25.

While Toppings is a new pizza parlor in town, Dinakarakos is not new to the business having owned a pizza place in Epsom, N.H., for 21 years.

“It’s always a guessing game, especially with this economy. From what I’m learning [about the area]  there is a lot of tourism, but my main focus is on the customers now and getting through the winter,” Dinakarakos said. “Pizza has to be affordable.”  

At Fresh Start, a consignment store on Main Street Kennebunk, gently used clothing and accessory items are for sale at discounted prices. Owner Deena Galanti said more people are bringing in clothes to make extra money and her store fills up fast. She said she can be selective of the items she sells second hand, for a 50/50 split. 

“Everyone is thinking recycling and reuse,” Galanti said of the idea of buying second hand. 

With recently closed businesses near her shop, Galanti said empty storefronts and vacant spaces along Main Street is the “hardest thing to see.”

“It’s a loss of competition,” Galanti said. 

Two doors down, Hearth and Soul owner Pat Hansen said she was careful to purchase  inventory in smaller quantities at a recent trade show, because people are being careful about how much they spend.

“The economy is cyclical. We just need to do everything we can and hang in there,” Hansen said.