Last minute shoppers rush to finish line

wonderful, our traffic has been wonderful, customers are in a great mood,” Pavelka said.

And the recession of 2008 did not fail to produce a hot, must-have item, either. It wasn’t a toy though. It was an item of clothing that seemingly no teenage girl could live with out.

“It’s Ugg boots. You can’t keep Ugg boots in the stores. They fly out the door,” Pavelka said, referring to the shin-high boots that have roll-down wooly tops.

The boots are so ubiquitous, nearly every girl in Newtown was sporting a pair at Newtown High School’s hometown football game last month.

In some towns, high school girls favored the roll-down style, while others adapted the rolled-up look. Either way, it was Uggboots they were wearing — one of the hottest fashion trends in years.

“The caffeine has been flowing as well,” said Pavelka, who stopped by the busy food court and paid a visit to the McDonald’s there.

He talked about the season’s other hands-down winner: electronic games. They have dominated Christmas lists since the 1990s.

“Electronics are hot for the younger folks. They like the Xbox. They’re buying sweaters and accessories,” he said of the teen and young adult crowd.

There were many bargains to be had. More than a few stores had signs that said “clearance” or “50 to 70 percent off.”

That was good for U.S. Army Pvt. Albert Barnes, of Oxford.

“I got a good deal at Godiva chocolate,” said the young soldier, dressed in his fatigue uniform.

He said he had just returned from training in Missouri and was home for the holidays.

“I’m ready for Christmas,” he said, toting a bag of merchandise.

Leighann Urban of Stratford was carrying her bags as well, with her boyfriend, Mike Eavis of Bridgeport, alongside.

“I didn’t want to wait until the last minute but it just worked out that way, with money and everything,” Urban said.

But it didn’t hurt.

“Everything is on sale,” she said, smiling.