Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Black Friday is more than three weeks away, but retailers are already pushing holiday sales. And while the recession has caused a lot of people to cut back, Shoppingtown mall says seasonal retailers are already moving in.
Shoppingtown reports 24 businesses will be moving into the mall before Black Friday. Meaning that those empty storefronts you currently see will soon be changing.
Nine of them are specialty shops that move in for the holidays then pack up. Another 15 new shops are planning to stay past January.
Jacquie Spear has opened up "Go Games" in the mall in time for the early holiday shoppers -- and many more stores like Hickory Farms and Avon will soon follow. “I think I offer something the big realtors don’t have,” Spear said. “The selections of games that I have, they can't find other places.”
“These holiday shops have a niche with your holiday gift needs,” said the marketing director for Shoppingtown Mall, Sandy Graham
This year, some of the shops that move in before the holidays won't be moving out once the Christmas gifts have been bought and opened. Most are small local businesses and a few are non-traditional -- like a skate park.
“There’s more space available than we have ever had so they are able to come in and try their hand at business,” Graham said.
Spear has been opening her game store seasonally for years, and she will be moving out after the holidays, but admits sticking around isn't such a bad idea. “I hear the same thing every year...we're happy to see you every Christmas and sad to see you go,” she said.
Shoppingtown Mall says the non-traditional businesses like a Ju-Jitsu center and the soon to arrive skate park are helping attract the specialty shops. They say people bring their kids in for a specific event then end up making impulse buys.
