SALEM, N.H. — Shoppers — and people looking for a warm place to hang out — flocked to the Mall at Rockingham Park today, one of the few business establishments in the area that has power and is open.

"With schools closed and people without power, a lot of people are coming to the mall," said David Donohue, spokesman for Simon Malls, which owns the Rockingham complex. "One person even called and asked if there was a shower."

He said the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua also is open, but that the Mall of New Hampshire in Manchester may be closing soon, because it is having trouble maintaining a steady supply of electricity.

Donohue said mall operators are steadily receiving phone calls from people looking for a place to eat and stay warm.

The state, meanwhile, is advising people to stay off the roads.

However, many people were out trying to fill their cars and trucks with fuel, despite the fact that many gas stations were closed.

Dozens of motorists waited in cars and pickup trucks to get to one of 16 gas pumps at the Hess station on Route 28 in Salem at midday. It was one of the few stations open for business. Some people arrived on foot, carrying gas cans they hoped to fill to take back to their empty vehicles.

A Fairpoint Communications worker was filling his truck and four gas cans. He said conditions were comparable to what he saw in Naples, Maine, in 1998.

"It was terrible," he said of the Great Ice Storm that struck in January of '98, affecting a huge area from northern New York and southeast Maine into Canada.

After that storm, power wasn't restored for some people for several weeks, and it was blamed for 30 fatalities.

In Hampstead, N.H., Mark Cegelis, 36, said things were hectic at his neighborhood gas station, which was jammed with people trying to get gas for home generators.

"It's kind of lawless out there right now. There's a lot of people very frustrated, stacking up at the gas stations. It's pretty ugly," he said.

He bought 21 gallons for himself and tried to deliver some to friends in Derry, but couldn't get there because of downed trees blocking roads. His friends came to him instead, and they expect to hunker down until power was restored.

Cegelis has a wife and two children. His parents live downstairs, and a friend of his mother's was expected to bring her air mattress and join them, too.

"So nine people here. But you know what? We've got the juice, and we're willing to let these folks come in. I'm sure they'd do the same thing for us," he said. "It's treacherous out there."

In Haverhill, Heav'nly Donuts on Route 125 was open, thanks to a generator keeping the coffee machines running and the pastry ovens powered.

"We're very crowded," owner Jimmy Saragas said. "People are very happy we're open."

He said he is sharing items with other stores.

"We are able to provide coffee and lots of pastries," he said.

In Haverhill, Heav'nly Donuts on Route 125 was open, thanks to a generator that was keeping the coffee machines running and the pastry ovens powered.

"We're very crowded," said owner Jimmy Saragas. "People are very happy we're open."

He said he is sharing items with other stores.

"We are able to provide coffee and lots of pastries," he said.

The Heav'nly Donuts on South Main Street in Haverhill also was open, but that was because power was not lost downtown.

"We're packed," said Steve Smith, assistant manager.

The manager of the Dunkin' Donuts on Route 125 in Plaistow said he lost power, but was still handing out pastries and water to customers.

"The Health Department for the town was here and he said the town was in a state of emergency and wouldn't have power until Monday," Alan Daviduk said.

He said health officials advised him that he could serve bottled water, soda and pastries that have already been cooked. He said he sold out of iced coffee early.

Daviduk noted that most of the gas stations around his business were shut down and Wal-Mart was closed.

Home Depot on Route 125, however, was open, after firing up a back-up generator and opening a couple of registers with limited lighting.

The head of contractor services said the store was packed with people looking for water, firewood, portable heaters and, of course, generators.

"They were sold out within 10 minutes of opening," he said.

The manager of the Home Depot could not be reached for comment.

Emily Hoang, marketing manager at the Mall at Rockingham Park, said the mall has been busy since opening at 9 a.m. and she expects it to be busy until closing at 10 p.m.

"People are grabbing their coffee and breakfast and lunch very soon," she said. "And they're shopping."

She said a number of people have called and asked about showering at the mall, because some communities have not only lost power, but water service, too.

"Everyone's really upbeat," she said. "They're saying, 'OK, I guess I'll shop 'til I drop today.'"

Even better, Santa will be at the mall, visiting with children, until tonight at 8.

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