By Daniel Hartill,Staff Writer
A mobile department store makes stop at the Colisee in Lewiston this weekend.

LEWISTON – The bargains were too big and too loud to ignore.

From the sunglasses, perfume and incense kiosks, barkers yelled out their deals. Outside the sneaker booth, a boy paced with a “buy one, get one at half price” sign. And Qumar Khan tried calling folks to his coat booth with the words, “Real leather!”

It took only moments for prospective customers to fill the floor of the Colisee, where the “Super Liquidation Sale” began its three-day run Friday.

Before it’s over Sunday evening, organizers hope to draw 5,000 people here, all for a sales strategy that peaked more than a decade ago.

“We’re trying to recapture the magic,” said Rich Belitch of Boston. “There was a time when a sale like this might draw 25,000 people.”

These days, a fraction of that would make this sale a success, Belitch said. The aim is re-ignite the demand.

The event works like a mobile department store, though even window shopping has a charge.

For a $6-per-person admission, people are allowed entry to the Colisee floor, where they can shop for Timberland T-shirts, Gateway and Dell Computers, Phat Farm Jeans and a variety of appliances and tools from lesser known brands.

People began lining up outside Friday afternoon, 30 minutes before the arena doors opened. By 3 p.m., when the sale kicked off, more than 150 people were in line.

Half an hour later, the reaction was mixed. People complained that TV and radio ads hadn’t warned them that an admission would be charged. Others complained that the sales staff, particularly for the computers, were little help.

Mary Bent of Lewiston wanted to see the computers deals she heard about on TV, she said.

“There were no prices,” she said. “I asked about one of the laptops, and the guy said, This one is good.’ That’s all he’d say.”

Like Bent, Rick Bally said he was upset by the admission charge. It seemed to offset any savings he found. He paid $12 to get him and his son inside and $20 for a pair of T-shirts.

“I’m not impressed,” said Bally, who bought a $350 leather jacket for $99 last weekend in Freeport. “I made a killing down there.”

Deals can be found, though, said Dave Williams. The Lewiston man had been to the Portland Expo for similar shows and knew what to expect, he said.

Williams bought two shirts, smiling as he walked the aisle past the vendors.

The sale continues today, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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