In the past, when attendance was up at the Baseball Hall of Fame it was reflected by the constant cha-ching of cash registers up and down Main Street.

But this year is different.

Many merchants report slower than normal sales so far this season despite reports of robust attendance from the Hall of Fame.

The Hall recently announced that this was the third best first six months for attendance in its 66-year history.

Hall of Fame spokesman Jeff Idelson confirmed that attendance is strong this year.

Attendance in July is running ahead of last year with induction weekend yet to come, he said.

According to Idelson, the hall is anticipating a better than average crowd for Sunday's ceremonies

But those numbers aren't adding up to more sales on Main Street this summer.

Bob Tricomi, the owner of On Deck Circle, said this year has been slower than the past.

"It's a little different than before," he said Monday afternoon. "There are more lulls in the traffic than in the previous two years, particularly in the morning, but then you get swamped."

Tricomi said he was at a loss to explain the slower sales.

"There's no rhyme or reason to why any day is busy or slow," he said.

One explanation, he said, may be that Dreams Park visitors are spending more time at the park this year.

He said his memorabilia and collectible business is not as dependent on Dreams Park visitors as some on Main Street.

Any stores that depend on the Dreams Park are facing "a big challenge," he said.

Like the Hall of Fame, Tricomi is expecting a big weekend.

"I think the weekend will be good with Sandberg and Boggs. I think it will be a busy weekend," he said.

A few doors closer to the Hall of Fame, Joel Staples, the assistant manager at Seventh Inning Stretch, said their business has been down.

"The season's been so so. Down a little, but good," he said.

Staples said the slower sales may be tied to the New York Yankees lackluster first half of the season this year.

"They weren't doing well early on, otherwise I have no idea," he said, adding that they were looking forward to a great weekend. "I expect there'll be a good crowd.

Mark Wolpert, whose Pioneer Sports Cards is across the street, is one merchant who hasn't noticed a slow down.

"It's going well. I can't complain," he said.

Andrew Vilacky, who has been in the baseball business in Cooperstown since 1996, said this summer has been "steady, but a little off" at his Pete Rose Ballpark Collectibles.

Vilacky said he's looking forward to the weekend which is an exciting time for the village, merchants and visitors alike.

"It's always fun," he said.

Having a chance to see and say hello to some of the Hall of Famers he has gotten to know over the years is a big part of the weekend for him.

Up on the four corners, Vin Russo at Mickey's Place said his business is down also.

"I have no idea why. It's hard for me to judge why," Russo said. "I'm baffled by the fact the Hall of Fame claims to be up yet many businesses on Main Street report being down."

Russo said attendance at the Hall of Fame is a barometer for business on Main Street. In his 14 years at Mickey's Place, his business has been closely patterned after the growth and decline of attendance at the Hall of Fame.

"Typically Main Street follows the Hall of Fame. It appears not to be the case this year. For that not to be reflected in the local economy is something I can't explain."

"Maybe it's the heat," he said. "The weather has not been a plus."

Russo, who is also the owner of the only paid parking lot in Cooperstown, said that business there is up this summer.

"We seem to have parked more cars," he said.

Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce director Polly Renckens said Tuesday that she has been hearing some "mixed reactions" from area businesses.

Some stores are doing well this summer, she said, and one thing is for certain, the village is not as busy with what she called regular or non-Dreams Park visitors.

Renckens said she knew the Hall of Fame numbers are up this summer and was also at a loss to explain the decline in sales experienced by some. And it's not just baseball merchants, she said. Some restuarant owners are saying their numbers are off this year also.

In talking with some Dreams Park families Renckens learned that their schedules are tighter than ever and that they seem to have less time to get out of the park.

Renckens said she plans to check with other tourist destinations around the state to see if their experiences are the same as many Cooperstown merchants.

But no matter how the first half of the season has gone, Renckens is planning on a big induction weekend crowd.

For all practical purposes, she said, Cooperstown is booked solid. There may be a stray room or two from cancellations, but those will likely be filled by the weekend.

Temperatures are predicted to subside and this has the makings of "a very strong, healthy weekend," she said.