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Russo’s Books, the city’s only independent book store chain, is closing its downtown location at 1416 17th St. after 12 years in business.

The store in the Haberfelde Building is liquidating all its merchandise. The owner said in the slow economy, there just wasn't enough business to keep all three of the chain's Bakersfield locations open.

The family-owned company still operates two other stores in The Marketplace, 9000 Ming Ave.; and East Hills Mall, 3000 Mall View Rd. Those will remain, as will the Internet sales.

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Western Warehouse is closing its only Bakersfield store, which is departing Valley Plaza Mall effective Sept. 30.

The seller of western apparel, cowboy hats, belts and boots is holding a “total liquidation sale,” according to signs throughout the store. Posters on exterior windows say merchandise is 10-30 percent off, but if you go inside you see discounts that go much deeper. Men's, women's and children's clothing and accessories are among the items slashed.

The store is on the north end of the mall across from Starbucks. It has a prominent storefront window that faces Ming Avenue.

Western Warehouse has 38 stores in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and California. Remaining stores in the state are in Citrus Heights, Milpitas and Visalia.

Bakersfield is a test market for McDonald's new fresh fruit smoothies. The fast food giant is offering free samples 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday July 17, 2008.

If you like the sample and want to buy a bigger drink, $1 of all proceeds Thursday will be donated to a fund for a new Ronald McDonald House. Slated to open in the fall, the house will provide deeply discounted lodging to families of sick children being treated at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.

Smoothies come in three sizes: small (12 oz) $2.59, medium (16 oz) $2.99 and large (20 oz) $3.69.

The test is part of McDonald's ongoing effort to add healthy choices to its menu options.

News from reporter Courtenay Edelhart:

After 15 years, party supply store PartyWorks is going out of business.

Owner Rob Fox said the store lost its lease, and “the economy is just too unpredictable to move the store to another location.”

The store is best known for transforming itself into “HalloweenWorks” to call attention to costume sales every October. In-store promotions included bringing in character actors who played some of TV and film’s best loved ghouls over the years, including Eddie Munster, Michael Myers and Leatherface.

The store at 44440 Ming Ave. next to Food Maxx has put its entire inventory on sale at up to 75 percent off as it prepares to close.
 

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Here's a "raw report" press release from the folks at Coke and NASCAR:

ATLANTA, July 1, 2008 – For members of the Coca-Cola Racing Family, each victory in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ race is traditionally followed by a thirst-quenching chug of an ice cold Coke Zero in the winner’s circle.  This weekend, 13 of the sport’s top drivers will attempt to give fans around the country their own “taste of victory” by taking the checkered flag in the inaugural Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway (July 5, 8:00 p.m., TNT).
 
The Coke Zero “Taste of Victory” program will give fans an added incentive to pull for their favorite Coca-Cola Racing Family members during this weekend’s race.  If any one of 13 drivers sponsored by Coca-Cola wins, people across the United States will be able to enjoy the Real Coke Taste and Zero Calories of Coke Zero for free.
 
Participating Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers include Tony Stewart, Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, Denny Hamlin, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Elliott Sadler, Jamie McMurray, Bobby Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Clint Bowyer and David Ragan.  Terry Labonte also is eligible as the driver of the #45 Petty Enterprises Dodge and substitute for Coca-Cola Racing Family member Kyle Petty, who is in the TNT broadcast booth this weekend.
 
Coca-Cola drivers have won the July race at Daytona five of the last six years – including McMurray’s victory last season – and currently hold six of the top 12 spots in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series™ point standings.  
 
If a Coca-Cola Racing Family driver takes the checkered flag Saturday night, fans will be able to visit www.CokeZero.com July 5 through July 13 and follow the instructions to receive a coupon for a free 20-ounce bottle of Coke Zero.

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You're not driving and talking on your cell phone without a hands-free device, are you?

The law requiring drivers age 18 and over to use a hands-free device while driving went into effect today. (Those under 18 aren't allowed to talk on cell phones will driving at all.)

Reporter John Cox found you can spend about $20 or much more for devices that comply with the law.

Have you found any good deals? Share them here.

— Christine Peterson

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One of the news staffers rented a movie at Blockbuster over the weekend and found out the current prices were $2 a day for a new release and $1 for an older title.

He let us know, and reporter Courtenay Edelhart checked it out with the company. Turns out Bakersfield is a test market for this pricing. Of course, keep the item longer than a day and you'll keep paying.

What do you think of the pricing?

Will you be going to Blockbuster? Or are you a Netflix customer?

The last time I said anything about IHOP, a bunch of bloggers protested, saying they don't like the food. Fair enough.

When you're looking for inexpensive breakfast — say with a large group or a family — it can be a great deal. And right now the Rosedale Highway location and the one off Buck Owens Boulevard are handing out $5 coupons for your next visit.

Not bad if you're buying a $6 or $7 breakfast to get $5 off.

— Christine Peterson

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It's sale time at J.C. Penney.

One deal the store is running right now is buy one, get the second one for 88 cents, on all kinds of items. 

I can be skeptical of that — who wants two of the same shirt or shoes? Or, alternately, is the price of the first item so high that a second for 88 cents really isn't a deal?

So I checked it out, and bought four shirts, all very different (I won't be wearing the same thing every day), that were part of the promotion.

They ended up being about $16 each. Worked for me.

— Christine Peterson

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You gotta love this headline: Jack Feels Your (Gas) Pain!  

That comes to us today from the PR folks at Jack in the Box, who want you to know they're handing out two free regular tacos on June 26 to any customer who brings in a gas receipt. (No copies! No cheating!)

"The rising price of fuel is really putting the pinch on consumers," said Terri Graham, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Jack in the Box Inc., in a Jack's press release. "Giving away free tacos is our way of letting guests know that Jack's got their back in these tough economic times."

No taco hogs — one order of two free tacos per customer!!!!

The deal's good from midnight until 11:59 a.m. that day.

Now before you bloggers point out the obvious, let me say it: Yes, I do realize that if you go there you'll likely spend money on a soda and fries or other stuff.

(An aside. Ever wanted to interview Jack? Well, the Fast Food Maven blogger at the Orange County Register, Nancy Luna, wanted to. Read it here. So there's a shout-out to Nancy, a former co-worker of mine!)

— Christine Peterson