Post-holiday traffic at the Waikele super retail center was bustling yesterday, but the downturn in the economy and in tourism has resulted in four store closures and another scheduled closure.

Store closure signs were nearly as prevalent as the after-Christmas sale signs displayed in store windows. At the Waikele Outlet Center, longtime retailers Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Waikele Jewelry Mart and Geoffrey Beene already have closed for business and Big Dogs clothing store is slated to close Jan. 18. Across the street, it was the last day of business for Steve & Barry's, where a handful of shoppers picked through store furnishings and shelving.

“;While the store closures might be surprising to some shoppers, retailers have known that we've been in a recession for nearly 18 months now,”; said retail analyst Stephany Sofos. “;They've been trying to get themselves in order ever since, but we are just now seeing their action plans.”;

If the current economy continues, Hawaii could see more store closures, especially from mainland chains, Sofos said.

“;It's very expensive to ship here and it's better to consolidate near your main stores,”; she said. “;It's quite possible that we could see more chains deciding to pull out of Hawaii.”;

The downturn is affecting old and new retailers indiscriminately, Sofos said.

“;It's just really tough right now,”; she said.

But stores in Waikele are facing additional challenges due to the downturn in tourism and to competition from newer super centers across the islands, Sofos said.

“;When they first opened 15 years ago, Waikele was the only super retail center in Hawaii,”; she said. “;Now there are at least nine of them. Three retail generations later, they have a whole lot more competition.”;

While the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Waikele Jewelry Mart had operated for 15 years in their Waikele locations, Steve & Barry's, the discount seller of clothing lines by celebrities, had been open for less than a year. The company held a grand opening for the Hawaii store at the former CompUSA site at Waikele Center on April 25, but the store's position had been tenuous since New York-based Steve & Barry's LLC filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June. At the time of the bankruptcy, the Waikele store had about 80 employees.

Dana Bolos, manager of Big Dogs, said the store's impending closure is due to corporate downsizing.

“;Big Dogs is not doing as well as a company and are downsizing from 80 stores to about 10 stores nationwide,”; Bolos said.

Bolos said that she and eight other Hawaii employees who work for the company were informed about the closure in October.