81.   As Internet retailers crow that the country is about to have another e-Christmas, brick-and-mortar stores are striking back.

82.   As the water park becomes popular, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and clothing stores are expected to benefit from the influx of visitors.

83.   As land prices rise near populous areas, for instance, cavernous stores may not be as viable.

84.   At least two area stores are able to special-order Jerusalem crosses for you, but neither stocks gold ones.

85.   At noon, the store was under customer siege.

86.   At least not on Saturday afternoon, when the store is full.

87.   At the Livingston Mall in Livingston, N.J., many stores were nearly empty Wednesday and customers seemed to be window-shopping rather than buying.

88.   At the Sherman Oaks Galleria, where all the stores are open, tenants also are hiring more, said Marketing Director Donna Lum.

89.   At midmorning in Houston, a Target store was nearly toaster-less.

90.   At Pittsburgh, most stores are past security, in an area every passenger passes through.