Seeking Bang for Their Bucks
Pinched by Gas Prices, Holiday Tourists Shop With Care

By Jordan Weissmann and Anita Huslin
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, July 5, 2008; E11

Vendors in the city yesterday encouraged pocketbook patriotism with $8 barbeque sandwiches, hotel packages, Independence Day discount mattresses, red-white-and-blue leis and souvenir T-shirts.

Tourism officials were expecting more people in the city for the holiday than in recent years, in part because of a slogging economy and gas that is averaging $4.10 a gallon. Merchants were hoping people would forget that and spend money anyway. But many were economizing.

"Times are bad," said Alisa Stephens, who came with her husband from Kentucky for a week-long vacation and booked a hotel room in Fairfax to save money. "We found the cheapest place we could. It includes dinner three days of the week," she said while browsing the street vendor's tables across from the Old Executive Office Building.

"How much is this?" she asked, holding up a commemorative plate with monuments on it. Ten dollars, the woman selling souvenirs replied.

"How much for the bell?" she asked, pointing to the one with the White House on it. "Seven dollars." In the end, she walked away with two plastic keychains for $5.

More Washingtonians were expected to join the out-of-towners than average, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic. "This year, I think people are going to check out what's in their own backyard," said John Townsend, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, putting a positive spin on the association's forecast that fewer residents in the metro region would travel fifty miles for the holiday weekend than they did last year.

Based on historical data, the association projected there could be as many as 300,000 parade watchers and 1.2 million spectators for the annual fireworks display. Two years ago, 700,000 showed.

However, many brought their holiday trimmings from home.

"Because of the economy this year I am watching my pennies," said Lorna Ferguson of Zanesville, Ohio, one of 20,000 educators expected in town this week for the National Education Association convention, one of the biggest the District will host.

She sat in the shoe section of Macy's downtown, wearing a felt Uncle-Sam-style stovepipe hat and carrying a flag print purse she brought with her to Washington. She was waiting for a friend, she said, and was trying to not buy anything. She had already a red-white-and-blue light-up lei.

"I'm more or less window shopping," she said.

The Fourth of July is generally one of the better holidays for hotels, according to D.C. tourism officials. A survey of a half-dozen downtown hotels showed all were booked for the weekend.

Many people also seemed happy to splurge on food. Charlie Palmer, across from the Capitol, maxed out reservations for its tony cookout, where for $39 a head guests could dine on roast suckling pig, Kobe beef sliders and cotton candy. Passers-by shelled out $8 for a Fourth of July barbecue sandwich and $4 for bottled root beer at the outdoor food stand at Occidental, near the White House.

It was not immediately clear what impact the traditional advertising blitz of Independence Day savings was having for oriental rug merchants, furniture stores and appliance warehouses that offered specials.

At Macy's, mattress salesman Robert Marzullo was doing his best to move merchandise, much of which was marked with red sale tags. A woman trying out one of the beds asked about a discount. Marzullo could only offer 15 percent off, he said politely, if she opened a charge account. It was the kind of request he had gotten more than once.

"Yesterday we had a wonderful day. The store did outstandingly," he said. "Today, everyone is ready to fight with you. Everyone is bargain hunting. Basically it's a different customer."

Another customer showed interest in a $1,500 mattress but wanted Marzullo to waive the $65 shipping fee. He couldn't unless she bought a box spring, he said.

"Well, it's not your fault," she said, then left.