Last-minute shoppers make way to the malls

Judy Odierna

Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2002 | 11:07 a.m.

Some of Las Vegas' shopping options on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day include:

Procrastinators have an advantage in Las Vegas. Life in a 24-7 town allows for shopping on the not-so-silent night of Christmas Eve and even Christmas Day.

While most major malls in the area, like the Fashion Show and Boulevard Mall will be closed tomorrow, many shopping areas, like Desert Passage in the Aladdin, will be open until 9 p.m. tonight and all day on Christmas.

From locals who put off buying that shirt for dad to tourists who made Sin City their holiday destination, major malls around the city have seen more and more traffic each day as Christmas get closer, some of the mall managers said.

"We have seen a lot of the last-minute shopper," said Keri Frame, general manager for Bloomingdale's Home Store in the Fashion Show mall. "We saw a great weekend after Thanksgiving and then things calmed down a bit. But it's been building everyday for the past week."

Retailers nationwide are hoping the last-minute shopper will boost sagging sales numbers. Analysts say consumers have cut back on their spending because of worries about job security and the economy's uncertain recovery.

Some Las Vegas retailers, though, say they have seen an increase in sales numbers. Anne Yendrek, public relations manager for Neiman Marcus, said a refurbished store and an upgraded Fashion Show mall are part of Neiman's success.

"Our two new restaurants have helped tremendously," said Yendrek. "We are doing very well. There's not a big rush and people are calm and happy."

Boulevard Mall was bustling Monday, however.

Angela Ayala, 25, who comes to Las Vegas from Chicago every Christmas, was sprinting through the mall to get some gifts for will her 3-year-old son Jordan.

"I'm used to this," Ayala said of the crowds. "I shop in downtown Chicago all the time and it's usually busy."

Sherry Anderson, 49, another Las Vegas visitor, said she also was happy to be at the mall Monday.

"I thought it would be scary but the most I have had to wait was five minutes," Anderson said. "It's kind-of fun. It puts you in the Christmas mood."

While shoppers moved easily through the various stores, it wasn't as easy to get to the Boulevard's most popular last-minute Christmas stop -- Santa's lap.

Sisters Fiorella Parodi, 25, and Ximena Parodi, 21, waited more than an hour for their 8-year-old sibling, Francesca, to see Santa Claus.

"Last year we went to the Galleria at Sunset the day before Christmas to see Santa and the line was so long we bribed her with a cookie saying we'll take you next year," Ximena Parodi said. "Unfortunately she remembered."