Area malls have announced the start of their extended holiday hours, and Huntington Mall marketing director Betsy Donahue said they are more than ready to greet the extra shoppers.

Saturday, November 27, 1999

Area malls have announced the start of their extended holiday hours, and Huntington Mall marketing director Betsy Donahue said they are more than ready to greet the extra shoppers.

"We expect a very healthy Christmas season," Ms. Donahue said. "We’re already seeing it. We’ve had three healthy weekends already."

The mall offers extended hours every holiday season because it’s what the customers and retailers want, Ms. Donahue said.

"It’s the biggest retail season of the year," she said. "Shoppers want to shop more and merchants want to stay open. We extend our hours for the shopper’s convenience."

People seem to start Christmas shopping earlier each year, Ms. Donahue said.

"The retail world puts out Christmas merchandise after Halloween and that gets people into the Christmas spirit early," she said.

And to foster that spirit, the mall will have Santa at its Lazarus Dome from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, Ms. Donahue said.

About 30 area school musical groups from West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio also are scheduled to perform throughout the month of December, she added.

But for those who just come for the shopping, the mall’s hours this holiday season will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec. 2, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 3; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 4, Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 19; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 6-Dec. 9; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 13-16; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dec. 17 and Dec. 20-23; 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dec. 18; and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.

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After closing its doors Thanksgiving Day, the Ashland Town Center reopened with extended hours to meet its holiday shoppers’ needs, said Tammi Holbrook, mall marketing director.

"Our extended hours will continue throughout the holiday season," Ms. Holbrook said. "We have them posted on all entrances and exits so it will be convenient for our customers to see every day what hours we will be open."

The town center offers extended hours every holiday season, Ms. Holbrook added.

"We do this just to give shoppers a better opportunity to shop during hours convenient to them," she said.

And the upcoming shopping season looks promising. The town center had its Magical Night of Giving last weekend, and merchants were pleased with the number of people who came through the mall doors.

"We are looking forward to a positive and good holiday season," Ms. Holbrook said.

The town center’s holiday hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Dec. 5 and 12; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 and Dec. 19; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 2-4, Dec. 6-10, and Dec. 13-16; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 11 and Dec. 20-22; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Dec. 17-18 and Dec. 23; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve.

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Driving farther into Kentucky, holiday shoppers will find Cedar Knoll Galleria on U.S. 60 in Cannonsburg.

The mall also will offer extended hours this Christmas season, said Jim Regan, manager.

"We offer extended hours to give the general public a better opportunity to get Christmas shopping done," Regan said. "The hours get extended year after year, and we wouldn’t stay open if it wasn’t profitable."

Shopping already has increased at the mall and Regan expects that it will grow even more.

"We’re looking forward to a very good Christmas and an even better year 2000," he said.

Cedar Knoll Galleria shopping hours will be 12-6 p.m. today and Dec. 5; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 29-Dec. 4 and Dec. 6-11; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 12; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 13-16; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 17-18; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 19-23; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Eve.