Allison Kaplan is senior editor of shopping + style for MplsSt.Paul Magazine, host of Shop Girls on myTalk107.1 and author of Ali Shops Blog. After years of covering the ins and outs of Mall of America®, she created Ali Shops MOA™, an independent insider’s guide to the Mall, available on any smart phone at moa.alishops.com.
Most Black Friday guides start by urging shoppers to wear comfy shoes. My feeling is, if you really don’t know that, well, you’ll just make your way to DSW or Nike or one of the dozens of other shoe stores around you. After all, this is Mall of America®!
As someone who has spent many a Black Friday at MOA™—early, late, and in between, with in laws, a newborn, assorted children and a whiny husband in tow— here’s some advice to find the deals, enjoy the delights, and keep your sanity in check.
- Best Hours. With so many stores opening on Thanksgiving and throughout the night, shoppers will come in waves. Expect a big crowd in the early evening, with Best Buy opening at 6 p.m., and Macy’s at 8 p.m. In my experience, early morning—6 to 9 a.m.—is a great time to arrive without traffic or parking delays. The crowd will build throughout the day on Friday.
- Plot Your Course. It’s a big Mall. You’ve got to conserve your energy and time. Know your must-stop stores and map them out for efficiency and hours. On Black Friday, I don’t waste time looking at anything that isn’t discounted. Seize the sales! MOA will list many of the specific offers right here on the website, and you can also plan ahead by checking the sites of your favorite brands. With few exceptions—typically, Apple and lululemon athletica among them—this will not be the only day before Christmas that retailers run sales, so don’t lose your mind over 20 percent off. Last year, some of the best deals were limited time offers—for example, Gap had a storewide discount all day, but bumped it up to 60 percent off in the early morning on Black Friday.
- Embrace Nordstrom . Even when it’s crazy busy, there’s an air of civility to Nordstrom. Let it be your harbor in the shopping storm. Besides being a favorite place to shop, it’s a great place to meet, eat, and find respite. My top parking area (although you can’t be as picky at holiday time) is on the 4th level of the ramp near Nordstrom. By parking on 4, you avoid having to climb any stairs to enter the store, so it’s great with strollers and wheelchairs. You’ll enter Nordstrom on level 3 (weird, I know) and find the best women’s restroom/lounge in the entire Mall to your left. It has sofas as well as a semi-private room for nursing with changing tables and comfy chairs. Also on the third floor: the customer service desk, which will hold packages for Nordstrom shoppers, and the Nordstrom Café , a quiet, casual dining spot with a menu that pleases most everyone, including kids. The children’s shoe department, also on 3, has a big fish tank kids love to see, and free balloons. I suggest using this as a bribe—if behavior is good, you’ll pick one up on the way out of the Mall.
- Take breaks. Beyond Nordstrom, one of my favorite hidden corners of the Mall is the Starbucks at Barnes & Noble . The line tends to be shorter than other Starbucks in the Mall, the menu is broader, there’s a bathroom nearby, and plenty of reading material! Another under-the-radar spot is The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf , with plenty of seating and WiFi, on the lower level of Forever 21. Or, cross the skyway to Radisson Blu and enjoy a drink or a meal with great ambiance at the FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar .
- Make reservations. Especially if you’re shopping with a big group, call ahead or send someone to put your name on the list at one of the sit-down restaurants. There will be waits for lunch and dinner, and even serious bargain hunters need to eat!
Get more of Ali’s MOA shopping tips, along with deals and holiday giveaways at moa.alishops.com.
from MOA Blog http://blog.mallofamerica.com/slideshow/alis-black-friday-shopping-tips/
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