While a rash of recent high-profile business closings may have left some Santa Fe residents feeling uneasy about the economy, the early returns from the holiday shopping season may offer a brighter outlook.

Several merchants around the city were reporting robust sales as the holiday season got into full swing this week, with a couple of them — Kakawa Chocolate House and Beck & Bulow — indicating their business was booming.

“I am seeing [consumer] confidence — and our business is showing that,” said Tony Phillips, who owns and operates Kakawa with his wife, Bonnie Bennett.

Any concerns that may be lingering about the effects of the federal government shutdown, the impact of the Trump administration tariffs, and the recent closure of such well-known Santa Fe businesses as El Farol, Whole

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