After 55 years in business, Buchanan's Nursery is closing.

Home-improvement stores put a lot of emphasis on "do-it-yourselfers," who want to make their own home improvements and repairs. The stores offer classes, hire experts and base marketing campaigns on slogans such as, "You can do it. We can help."

While many see the reopening of Fayetteville Street Mall in downtown Raleigh as good, the construction wasn't good for Dakota Grill. The two-year-old eatery at 10 E. Hargett St. closed on the day before Thanksgiving.

Malls hate empty space. So they bring in temporary tenants to fill their dark spots. That's especially true during the holiday shopping season, which accounts for more than a quarter of retailers' annual sales.

Tippy's Mexican Restaurant at 808 Hodges St. in Raleigh closed last weekend after more than 37 years in business.

Our stories last Sunday about coupon clipping and frugal shoppers spurred many readers to send us their own tips.

Two golf retailers are trying to link up with Triangle customers, betting that there will be enough demand from this region's rabid golf fans to go around.

On Tuesday, Wake Forest resident Kendra Graham took a bag of recently purchased clothes back to the Children's Place in the Triangle Town Center.

Recently, a friend of mine tried to sell me his big-screen TV. "I'll give you a coupon," he bartered. "$400 off!"

The Brier Creek area in North Raleigh continues to grow. The 102,000-square-foot Brierdale center, tucked behind Brier Creek Commons, will begin to fill up soon. It's home to Earth Fare, Wachovia, and soon, these additions:

Several of the area's major shopping centers have signed what will likely be their final leases for 2005.

Many people know Roger Brown as "Mr. Shoe" from the years he operated a shoe-repair business on Main Street in Durham.