Mesquite News > News
Shoppers off to fast start
The Christmas shopping season is well under way.
By Brian Bearden, Managing Editor
In Mesquite, shoppers enjoyed extra security from the police as thousands worked their way into the Town East Mall parking lot for the Rockin' Shoppin' Eve party at 11 p.m.
The parking lot party between Sears & Dillard’s included music by Dallas’ Chaz Marie Band, holiday trivia contests and hot coffee.
Santa Claus popped in to check on the festivities.
The mall stores were giving away prizes such as diamond pendants, Coach handbags, iPod nano, a Jason Witten autographed football, a Texas weekend getaway, Nintendo Wii, Sony Digital Camera, Navman GPS & other prizes.
At 1 a.m., shoppers were going through the mall doors and searching for "Black Friday" bargains as stores inside hoped to get out of the "red" for the year and finally begin making a profit.
By 2 a.m., a trend had emerged as some shoppers stationed husbands and boyfriends in the growing checkout lines, then kept shopping. One shopper said she had to cook Thanksgiving dinner for his family while he watched both the Dallas Cowboys and Texas - Texas A&M football games, and her sleepy-eyed husband owed her one.
He just shrugged his shoulders as she dropped some potential gifts in the cart and rallied herself for more shopping. He was content with the Cowboys and Longhorns winning big.
Shoppers emerged from malls around dawn to find a light rain.
The weather forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms across North Texas until the evening. Late afternoon shoppers will be going out in 40-degree weather. Rain is back in the forecast for the weekend.
The mall will stay open until 10 p.m. Friday. Saturday hours will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday the mall will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Around 6 a.m. this morning, the parking lot at Town East Mall looked about 80 percent full.
OTHER MALLS/STORES
Macy's, Kohl's and J-C Penney each opened doors before dawn. Collin Creek parking lots looks crowded around Macy's this morning but overall the lots are less than 50 percent full around 7 a.m.
The Allen Premium Outlets and Grapevine Mills opened at midnight.
Wii fans may want to try their luck at the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano. That mall is giving away one Wii game console every hour today.
NorthPark reports that it has doubled its security for today. Most stores in NorthPark, the first mall in Texas, open at 9 a.m. Friday.
Mayors in all local cities echoes what Rowlett mayor John E. Harper said, "We urge everyone to shop locally. Keep the money in the community this Christmas season."
TOP SHOPPING BARGAINS
According to Forbes.com and yahoo.com
Beginning Friday, retailers across virtually all categories will mark down prices, sometimes 50 percent, 60 percent, even 70 percent. These post-Thanksgiving sales allow you to give without going broke.
Home Depot
Friday-until supplies last
For those looking to buy big appliances this holiday season, Home Depot has a bevy of affordable options, from a $300 Amana "Tall-Tub" dishwasher to a $50 Magic Chef stainless steel, 900-watt microwave.
T.J. Maxx/Marshalls
Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
On top of the 20-60 percent off brand-name merchandise that T.J.Maxx and Marshalls already offers, both stores — owned by the TJX Companies — will be open early, but not too early, for Black Friday. Both retailers are encouraging shoppers to avoid the 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. crowds by stopping by sometime in between.
Wal-Mart
Friday-until supplies last
There will be discounts storewide at the world's biggest retailer, whose can't-be-beat prices have proven very attractive during the downturn. One of the biggest deals is the store's selection of laptops in the $300 range.
Best Buy
Friday, 5 a.m.-until supplies last
Electronics emporium Best Buy will offer customers several "door busters," from a $380 Toshiba laptop to a $60 Insignia digital camera. However, door busters come in limited quantities, which means the crowds will be out early to scoop up these sales.
Sears
Friday-until supplies last
Along with discounts on Panasonic televisions, Nintendo Wii and Sharp Blu-Ray disc players, Sears will offer Black Friday specials that won't be advertise.
Lowe's
Friday-until supplies last
At this building supplies store, Shop-Vac's 14-gallon wet-dry vacuum will be marked down from $89.97 to $29, while Black and Decker's SmartDriver cordless drill will drop from $39.97 to $19.97.
FAO Schwartz
Friday
All FAO-branded items, including the plush rocking duck ($155) and the 55-piece sustainable wood train ($179), will be discounted by 25 percent on Friday. The toy store will also heavily promote its "$25 and under" toy line, which includes Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar plush toy and a classic tin drum by FAO's private label.
By Brian Bearden, Managing Editor
In Mesquite, shoppers enjoyed extra security from the police as thousands worked their way into the Town East Mall parking lot for the Rockin' Shoppin' Eve party at 11 p.m.
The parking lot party between Sears & Dillard’s included music by Dallas’ Chaz Marie Band, holiday trivia contests and hot coffee.
Santa Claus popped in to check on the festivities.
The mall stores were giving away prizes such as diamond pendants, Coach handbags, iPod nano, a Jason Witten autographed football, a Texas weekend getaway, Nintendo Wii, Sony Digital Camera, Navman GPS & other prizes.
At 1 a.m., shoppers were going through the mall doors and searching for "Black Friday" bargains as stores inside hoped to get out of the "red" for the year and finally begin making a profit.
By 2 a.m., a trend had emerged as some shoppers stationed husbands and boyfriends in the growing checkout lines, then kept shopping. One shopper said she had to cook Thanksgiving dinner for his family while he watched both the Dallas Cowboys and Texas - Texas A&M football games, and her sleepy-eyed husband owed her one.
He just shrugged his shoulders as she dropped some potential gifts in the cart and rallied herself for more shopping. He was content with the Cowboys and Longhorns winning big.
Shoppers emerged from malls around dawn to find a light rain.
The weather forecast calls for rain and thunderstorms across North Texas until the evening. Late afternoon shoppers will be going out in 40-degree weather. Rain is back in the forecast for the weekend.
The mall will stay open until 10 p.m. Friday. Saturday hours will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday the mall will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Around 6 a.m. this morning, the parking lot at Town East Mall looked about 80 percent full.
OTHER MALLS/STORES
Macy's, Kohl's and J-C Penney each opened doors before dawn. Collin Creek parking lots looks crowded around Macy's this morning but overall the lots are less than 50 percent full around 7 a.m.
The Allen Premium Outlets and Grapevine Mills opened at midnight.
Wii fans may want to try their luck at the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano. That mall is giving away one Wii game console every hour today.
NorthPark reports that it has doubled its security for today. Most stores in NorthPark, the first mall in Texas, open at 9 a.m. Friday.
Mayors in all local cities echoes what Rowlett mayor John E. Harper said, "We urge everyone to shop locally. Keep the money in the community this Christmas season."
TOP SHOPPING BARGAINS
According to Forbes.com and yahoo.com
Beginning Friday, retailers across virtually all categories will mark down prices, sometimes 50 percent, 60 percent, even 70 percent. These post-Thanksgiving sales allow you to give without going broke.
Home Depot
Friday-until supplies last
For those looking to buy big appliances this holiday season, Home Depot has a bevy of affordable options, from a $300 Amana "Tall-Tub" dishwasher to a $50 Magic Chef stainless steel, 900-watt microwave.
T.J. Maxx/Marshalls
Friday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
On top of the 20-60 percent off brand-name merchandise that T.J.Maxx and Marshalls already offers, both stores — owned by the TJX Companies — will be open early, but not too early, for Black Friday. Both retailers are encouraging shoppers to avoid the 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. crowds by stopping by sometime in between.
Wal-Mart
Friday-until supplies last
There will be discounts storewide at the world's biggest retailer, whose can't-be-beat prices have proven very attractive during the downturn. One of the biggest deals is the store's selection of laptops in the $300 range.
Best Buy
Friday, 5 a.m.-until supplies last
Electronics emporium Best Buy will offer customers several "door busters," from a $380 Toshiba laptop to a $60 Insignia digital camera. However, door busters come in limited quantities, which means the crowds will be out early to scoop up these sales.
Sears
Friday-until supplies last
Along with discounts on Panasonic televisions, Nintendo Wii and Sharp Blu-Ray disc players, Sears will offer Black Friday specials that won't be advertise.
Lowe's
Friday-until supplies last
At this building supplies store, Shop-Vac's 14-gallon wet-dry vacuum will be marked down from $89.97 to $29, while Black and Decker's SmartDriver cordless drill will drop from $39.97 to $19.97.
FAO Schwartz
Friday
All FAO-branded items, including the plush rocking duck ($155) and the 55-piece sustainable wood train ($179), will be discounted by 25 percent on Friday. The toy store will also heavily promote its "$25 and under" toy line, which includes Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar plush toy and a classic tin drum by FAO's private label.
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