Christmas shopping usually makes up the strongest retail period of the year for most store owners, but not all DeKalb businesses watch sales soar during the holiday season.

Todd Capes, assistant manager of AppleTree Records, 1022 W. Lincoln Hwy., said sales “go way up” during December.

“We sell lots of gift certificates,” Capes said. “We also have a few sales, but nothing out of the ordinary.”

Capes said he does not feel AppleTree loses business to malls in Chicago or Rockford. “A few might go out that deep, but as long as they’re here, they’ll come,” he said.

However, not everyone sees a rush in buying after Thanksgiving. Brenda Lehan, assistant manager of Sports Of All Sorts, 811 W. Lincoln Hwy., said business only increases “a little.”

DeKalb townspeople make up most of the store’s business during the season, Lehan said. She also said the store sells a few gift certificates, but “not as many as we would like.”

Like Capes, Lehan said she thinks few people drive to nearby malls for Christmas shopping, but “you’re always going to get some,” she said.

One store manager who watches sales remain steady is Bill Muir, manager of American Liquors, 159 W. Lincoln Hwy. “We lose all the students after finals, but the townspeople are still here partying and the kids from DeKalb who go to school somewhere else come home,” he said.

Muir said the store offers gift certificates, but they only sell a few. He also said American sells more bottles of champagne than usual during the holiday season.