Since the Eid holiday has come to an end, the lively buzz has returned to the shopping centers in the capital. Store owners are optimistic that purchases will go back to normal and shoppers will hit the stores again after a noticeable lull occurred in almost all stores across the city. During the four days of Eid, the number of visitors in shopping centers dwindled, as did the number of regular customers in popular cafes. The empty malls and coffee shops may be explained by the tendency of a huge portion of Riyadh's residents to travel to the coastal cities during school breaks and also the fact that many headed to Makkah to perform Haj. Economists also speculate that shopping may have become a low priority for families due to the extremely high prices of sacrificial animals, and that most families were busy getting ready for the opening of schools. Hisham Al-Masri, a salesman at a perfume and cosmetics shop in one of the shopping centers in Riyadh, said: “There was a sharp decline in shoppers and visitors at the shopping center during the Eid days. Although we opened shops on the third day of Eid, not many customers showed up.” One customer, Ahmad Al-Raee, who was checking out items at an electronics store on the third day of Eid was happy that the shop was practically empty. “Stores during Eid are less crowded than usual. The calm atmosphere is an excellent chance to ask store employees for additional information and details about the products and to ask them to introduce new arrivals in the market. I can take my time before deciding what exactly I want to purchase,” he said. Managers of major stores and shopping centers plan to announce discounts and special offers to attract consumers. The manager of a shopping center, Yusuf Al-Rajeh, said: “There has been a 70 percent reduction in the number of shoppers during the Eid holidays. But I expect sales to go back to normal once travelers return to Riyadh and schools and government institutes open.” __
