Last Call at the Mall

As long as they weren’t expecting to find the long sold-out Sony PlayStation 2, most last-minute shoppers in Ventura County on Sunday still seemed able to find that special Christmas present.

That is, if they didn’t mind the lines. At Borders bookstore in Thousand Oaks, people waiting in line to pay stood 25 deep by 11 a.m. In Ventura, at Vons supermarket on Thompson Boulevard, all the registers were open and cashiers were busy all day.

It was the same everywhere. Procrastinators formed a shopping juggernaut, queuing up for diamonds, prime rib, cowboy coffee mugs and yes, at least in one case, the coveted PlayStation 2.

“Everyone has that deer-in-the-headlights look,” said Sharon Goins, store manager of Natural Wonders in The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks. In her store, the day’s big sellers were portable foot-tall Zen fountains, which were 30% off.

Many shoppers said they had most of their buying done long ago and were just in the market for stocking stuffers or presents for last-minute guests. Duane Livingston of Ventura said he scouted out what he wanted weeks ago. And by shopping in downtown Ventura just before closing time on Christmas Eve, he figured out a way to beat the crowds.

Stephanie Mercer of Camarillo bought guitar strings, picks and a strap at Ventura’s American Music on Sunday afternoon to add to other gifts she’d already bought for her husband and son. She said she preferred shopping on Christmas Eve because it was a good day to go people-watching.

And Gerardo Cornejo of Carpinteria, who was buying computer games at CompUSA in Oxnard, said he wanted to wait to shop for his nieces and nephews until he found out what their parents bought them.

Others hit the stores late because they had to.

“Actually, I’m going to dinner right now and I can’t show up with nothing,” said 23-year-old Farren Martin of Ojai, who bought books at Ventura’s Calico Cat bookshop a few minutes before 5 p.m.

Toula Colovos of Thousand Oaks had all sorts of reasons for her tardiness. First, she took a trip to Europe. Then, after she got back, her cat died. She put up her decorations four days ago and then started shopping Sunday, picking out books for family members and a Wizard of Oz treasury for herself.

But most of those wanting Sony’s hot PlayStation 2 were out of luck. Ed Sherman, 23, who works at Babbage’s, an electronic games store in The Oaks, said his store would not have more in stock until the spring, although people came in all day asking for them.

Shane Zaring of Newbury Park was one of the lucky few who went home with the computer game, claiming he had an inside source at The Oaks who was able to get it for him.

Others were buying gifts on Christmas Eve because it was the only day two or more family members buying gifts jointly could get together. Father and son Denny and Allan Tuan of Simi Valley, shopped for jewelry for Denny’s wife (Allan’s mother) on Sunday, because Allan had just arrived home from college out of state.

“We had to sneak out when she wasn’t looking,” Denny Tuan said.

Ken Adger, 36, of Oxnard also was shopping for jewelry for his wife Sunday, saying Christmas Eve was the best time to shop.

“The sales are good,” he said.

At the Boot Barn in Ventura, Karen Tonazzi of Glendale bought an impromptu present for her husband, Victor. The couple had decided to take a drive north for the day, then saw the shop and decided to stop and buy cowboy boots for Victor’s Christmas present.

“It’s hard to buy them without his being here,” Karen Tonazzi said. “He has wide feet.”

Diane Barker of Oak View was also at the Boot Barn, buying stocking stuffers for her sister and brother-in-law. She went home with coffee mugs, and couldn’t believe she was out shopping on Christmas Eve.

“I usually shop ahead of time,” she said. “I always accuse my husband of this, but here I am.”

Tom and Colleen Spence of Simi Valley spent the morning wandering through The Oaks mall and came home with an eclectic assortment: a barbecue tool set, sheepskin boots by Ugg and artwork for a cousin.

They found what they needed, Tom Spence said, because he knows the game of last-minute shopping.

“I’m always good in the clutch.”