Early calm greets the new year

Noaki Schwartz

NEWPORT-MESA -- Businesses preparing for the worst relaxed Friday morning

once the new year dawned on Asia with nary a peep of the dreaded Y2K

scare.

“Yesterday was a busy day with water purchases, canned good and

batteries,” Pavilions manager Craig Sahli said of Thursday preparations.

“It doesn’t seem as busy today now that New Year’s hit Australia and

Japan.”

Still, Sahli said, he’d be back on the first day of the new tear “to make

sure everything is still in place.”

While financial institutions were expected to be among the first to

panic, many businesses at Newport Center seemed calm despite the yearlong

predictions of disasters.

“It’s a normal day for business. The market closes at 1 p.m.,” said

Merrill Lynch spokeswoman Selena Morris, adding that only the command

centers across the nation will be open in case of any problems.

Few local businesses were open beyond normal holiday operating hours. In

fact, some closed early to give employees a chance to join in the

celebrations.

Eva Macyar, an aesthetician at Athenian Skin Care, said that the store

was closing at 3 p.m. and was not going to be open today.

“We’ve been very busy with people getting facials or some kind of waxing

in preparation for New Year’s parties,” she said, even though she just

planned to go to a friend’s house and relax.

Other managers operating businesses related to the New Year’s

festivities, though, saw it as an opportunity to cash in on the hype.

“About 60% of our limousines are booked. It’s weird though, it seems

lower than previous years,” said Bruce Neal, the owner of Century

Limousine and Sedan Service.

He added that this was perhaps because many people were either staying

home or leaving town to celebrate.

And because New Year’s wouldn’t be the same without the pop of a

champagne cork, many liquor stores planned to be open until 2 a.m.

“We’ve back stocked on champagne and beer,” said Nicole Swisher, the

assistant manager at Bay Crest Spirits and Wine.

Upscale restaurants, such as the Chart House, were also open to host New

Year’s festivities.

“We’re doing decorations and all of that in preparation,” said Joanne

Hurlburt, the restaurant’s bookkeeper. “We’re still having our regular

menu, though.”

A few 24-hour businesses refused to acquiesce to the once-in-a-lifetime

event. Kinko’s was open in case of any copying emergencies.

“Tonight we’ve got two people doing the graveyard shift,” said Juan

Moreno, manager of Kinko’s in Costa Mesa. “It’s a shorter staff, but

we’re open everyday.”