Sidewalk Sale Brings Owners and Shoppers Outside

Forget the sales that can be had on Kings Highway through Saturday as part of the borough's annual sidewalk sale.

Zeke Boren, whose family owns the Happy Hippo toy store, said what he looks forward to here each year has nothing to do with the art of the deal.

"The best part is I get to talk to people," said Boren, 29. "Every year I get to see my freshman algerbra teacher. This tells my whole life story."

It's a small world after all for Boren, who usually works the in the Moorestown Happy Hippo but gets drafted yearly for Haddonfield's sidewalk sale.

"Haddonfield, in general, does a good job with the business district to get people from out of town to come here," Boren said. "It's good for all around business and the economy."

Just down the street from the Happy Hippo, Ben Santoro had tables packed with dress shirts, ties and other fine garments from his shop, Richard Bennett Clothing for Men. Santoro said he likes to keep a low profile. So low that, customers often call him "Richard," even though he's been here for about 30 years. 

But the sidewalk sales gets him out of the store and into the sunshine, and he's alright with that.

"It's good for business," Santoro said. "It makes people notice what's going on. They may drive by and come back later. People who are very familiar with Haddonfield tradition of this sale, they wait for it. They definitely look forward to it. Many people tell us they plan their calendar around it."

There'll only be one more day on the calendar for the sale, which ends Saturday at 5 p.m.