Shoppers honor tradition by hitting Valley Plaza the day after Christmas
Dec. 26—What she saw Monday at Valley Plaza Mall has Cece Cozine rethinking her whole approach to Christmas.
Though usually not much of a mall shopper, she decided to stop by Monday and check on deals inside the mall. Cozine figured maybe she could pick up a few items — not necessarily things she wants, she emphasized, but things she needs.
Was she ever glad she did. By early afternoon, Cozine had spent just $60 on 20 different items on her list, which she called "more than pretty good."
Heads-up to her family and friends: Christmas might come a little late next year. Because it looked to her like the discounts got deeper almost overnight.
"Now I know after Christmas to come shopping," she said.
On Monday, the day after Christmas, shoppers took a day off work because of the quirky holiday schedule and crowded the mall hunting for bargains, grabbing a pretzel or some other snack and, in some cases, just getting out of the house.
Outside, lines of cars filled the parking-lot aisles waiting for a spot not too far from the mall entrance. Inside, groups of friends or family four and five abreast browsed stores with signs advertising year-end sales.
Eric Hernandez was there buying last-minute gifts for relatives he hadn't yet gotten a chance to visit this holiday season. While at it, he brought in some returns — in particular, a nice jacket he'd received for Christmas that happened to be the wrong size.
The store where it was purchased didn't have his size, unfortunately. But no matter: He found one in another color that fit.
"It worked out for me and them," Hernandez said. "They got me something and then I exchanged it for something that I wanted."
