By Jolene Farley
Santa Claus is coming to town Saturday, Dec. 15, but his visit will not coincide with Hills Appreciation Day this year.
For more than 10 years, Hills merchants have served an appreciation lunch to thank customers for their business throughout the year.
This year, Hills Development Corporation has decided to discontinue the yearly event due to a dwindling number of people attending. A lack of retail businesses on Main Street was also a contributing factor, according to Hills Development Corporation representative Bob Hanson.
In previous years, merchants contributed money to sponsor the event and many volunteered to work. Hills merchants have mixed feelings about the decision not to have appreciation day.
"I guess we would like to see it," said Hills Product and Design owner Jeff Bass. "If we had our way we would definitely have it."
"It was kind of slow (last year), but the weather was nice. Maybe it would be better to do it in the evening," said Hills Product and Design manager Amanda Rozeboom.
Another business owner said she could understand why the event wasn't going to be held this year. The last few years, she said it "seemed like not too many people were around." She also said it was usually a limited number of people who did the work.
Some merchants will have their own holiday or customer appreciation open houses for their customers.