SAN DIEGO ( Border Report ) — For a Monday morning, parking along San Ysidro Boulevard and at strip malls that line the roadway just north of border, was at a premium and hard to find.
There was a steady line of people walking from the border crossing while others were headed in the opposite direction carrying items such as suitcases and plastic bags filled with merchandise.
It was part of the last minute holiday shopping in San Ysidro, but staff from Carolin Shoes called it “too little too late” to salvage their season.
One employee, who wanted to remain anonymous, quickly gave the thumbs down when asked how busy they had been since Thanksgiving.
Another employee responded “it’s been really slow.”
Both blamed the long border waits for keeping customers away.
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Other shopkeepers in the area also said extreme border crossing times were the main reason why many Mexican shoppers have not been coming across the border to shop.