The other day, I was in a large retail store looking at Halloween costumes for my little guy. When I turned around, what do you think I saw against the back wall?

Christmas decorations. In October.

I don’t know about you, but it seems as though the holiday season has started into gear a little earlier than normal this season. Not only are lighted trees and reindeer already decorating aisles next to the mummies and ghosts, but many stores such as Walmart and Toys R Us already are promoting Christmas for people who want to get a head start.

So what’s all that mean for a holiday season that doesn’t look to be shaping up to be very merry?

The goal for retailers probably is to get people started buying early with the hopes that they’ll keep shopping until Christmas to bump up sales. That plan could be hampered by the economy’s uncertainty and low consumer confidence, retail consultant Jeff Green said.

Sales are expected to increase as much as 3 percent this holiday season over last year. Green said the early holiday sales might mean that the traditional start to the holiday shopping season – Black Friday – won’t pack as much of a punch this year.

Green, who is based in Arizona, said he saw Christmas decorations out at some discount stores as early as September this year when typically they don’t make an appearance until after Halloween.

“Because of that – everybody is starting a little bit earlier – the impact between Black Friday (and Christmas) is going to be less than it’s been in years past,” Green said.

And while he said Black Friday traffic probably won’t suffer too much – people who like the frenzy will go no matter what – shoppers already might have done a good chunk of their shopping. He also doesn’t expect promotions to be as good.

That’s partly because of the early sales but also because a larger percent of people are shopping online for the holiday haul. Statistics say that brick-and-mortar retail sales from Black Friday to Christmas, which used to account for an average of 30 percent of retailers’ annual sales, now account for 20 percent.

At Lewis Drug in Sioux Falls, Gene Elrod, senior vice president of human resources and loss prevention, said company management is optimistic for the end of the year and expects anywhere from a 2 percent to 5 percent increase in sales over last year.

The store won’t really kick off its promotional frenzy until the traditional start to the season on Black Friday, Elrod said. But Lewis put out Christmas decor earlier than usual.

That’s for two reasons: An abrupt close to the home and garden season meant stores had room to put the items out earlier, but Lewis also doesn’t want to be last to the party.

“People, they get in the mood right away, and the season doesn’t last that long, so if you aren’t with them, you’re behind them,” Elrod said.

Keg restaurant sale

The Keg restaurant at Marion Road and West 57th Street is listed for sale or lease with Bender Commercial Real Estate.

The restaurant, which specializes in fried chicken, still is open, but the listing could mean the future of the restaurant is in question – though it’s possible the company simply wants to downsize to a different location.

The listing price for the property is $1.15 million, according to Bender’s website.

Just last year, The Keg closed its original location at 26th and Sycamore. At the time, co-owner John Cassidy said sales were down and owners decided to consolidate when they were approached to sell the east-side location.

Andi Anderson, the listing agent with Bender, referred questions to The Keg owners, who did not return phone messages.

Tire store closes

The GCR Firestone store at 301 S. Minnesota Ave. is closed. The building is listed for lease.

Kelly Thurman’s retail column appears every Sunday. She can be reached at 331-2322 or kthurman@argusleader.com.