72°
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. Shoppers in Westchester County have lots of choices this holiday season and local malls are doing plenty to lure them to their stores.
At the Jefferson Valley Mall, the only mall in Northern Westchester, Lauren Penchina, director of mall marketing and business Development said her center is offering entertainment and other incentives to improve the shopping experience.
Were striving to make holiday shopping festive, so thats why were adding plenty of extra amenities and retail offers, Penchina said. Well have different groups here the whole holiday season performing at center court and well also have different community groups doing gift wrapping in which some of the proceeds will go to The Simon Youth Foundation.
The Galleria and The Westchester in White Plains are also Simon-owned properties. All three shopping centers have Rejuvenation Stations, where shoppers can rest, watch television or even play some games before doing more shopping.
All three malls also have mobile apps that can be downloaded to help shoppers find deals and learn about special events.
Many Westchester residents also cross the Connecticut border to The Danbury Fair Mall, and marketing manager Melissa Eigen said that shoppers will find plenty to see and do there.
The mall, owned by Macerich, opened at midnight on Black Friday and had a DJ and live holiday themed-entertainers on hand. Eigler said retailers were cautiously optimistic this holiday season.
Based on sales trends of the year, sales have been up slightly, so were anticipating sales will continue to rise slightly, Eigen said.
It wouldnt be the holiday shopping season without pictures with Santa and all four shopping centers hope their Kris Kringle can help convince people to shop in person rather than on the computer.
Kelliher said both White Plains malls will have natural bearded Santas for children to have their picture taken with. He said the one at The Galleria is celebrating his 15thyear with the mall.
He has many families that have been coming since their children were newborns, and they come again every year, Kelliher said.
At the Danbury mall, kids can meet Santa for free and have a picture taken with him.
Customers who shop online dont get to see Santa, Eigen said. The mall provides a festive holiday experience that you cant find online.
The Jefferson Valley Mall will also have a simulated fireplace and will have a sample center where shoppers can check out pizza, cookies and chocolates. Shoppers can also have their pet take photos with Santa on Dec. 4 and 11, and there will also be breakfast with Santa on Dec. 3 at 8:30 a.m.
All four malls will have extended holiday hours and special events as the holidays get closer. A schedule for the Jefferson Valley Malls holiday season and a schedule of events can be found on the mall's website, located here. A full schedule of hours and events for the White Plains centers can be found on the websites for The Westchester and The Galleria, respectively.
In Danbury, the mall will increase hours each week until Christmas and a full schedule can be found on the its website here.
Wherever you decide to shop, White Plains Kelliher has some words of wisdom.
Dress in layers and wear very comfortable shoes, Kelliher said.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Armonk and receive free news updates.
