Retailers expecting strong holiday season

Jennifer Shubinski

Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003 | 10:49 a.m.

Loading bags into the back of her car Tuesday, Las Vegas resident Jennifer Zelma said she was getting a jump-start on her holiday shopping.

"There's less of a crowd now," Zelma said of hitting the Galleria at Sunset mall before Thanksgiving Day with her daughter, Megan Zelma, 10. "But I'll be back out on Friday."

Retailers are hoping shoppers will be out in droves this holiday season to not just window shop, but to open their wallets and spend. Many local malls, both on and off the Strip, are opening the day after Thanksgiving, the traditional kick-off of the holiday shopping season, with special hours and prices.

Target is opening its stores two hours earlier than usual -- 6 a.m. -- and will have a larger-than-usual staff standing by for the expected crowds, said Brian Holler, manager on duty at the Grand Canyon Parkway retail center in far west Las Vegas.

"The general economy as a whole seems to be improving and consumer confidence levels are picking up," Holler said. "It will definitely be a good holiday season."

Other retailers also have special hours. Kohl's, which opened three stores in the Las Vegas area in October, will open at 6 a.m. KB Toys -- in the Meadows and The Boulevard malls, the Galleria at Sunset and Fashion Show mall -- will open at 5 a.m. KB Toy Works at 2350 E. Serene Ave. at Eastern Avenue will also open at 5 a.m.

The Boulevard and Meadows malls, and the Galleria at Sunset, will all open at 7 a.m. The Fashion Show mall will open at 9 a.m.

Some casino-based malls will be open for business Thursday.

The Forum Shops at Caesars, Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, and Mandalay Place at Mandalay Bay will be open Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. to midnight. Desert Passage at the Aladdin hotel-casino will be open Thanksgiving Day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m. to midnight, mall officials said.

Locally and nationwide, retailers are cautiously optimistic that a stronger economy will help boost this year's spending.

Research firms report that an improved economy could equate to strong holiday spending, but said consumer confidence is fragile, which could moderate sales in the end.

Regardless, holiday sales are expected to be stronger than 2002, when a weak economy and a shorter-than-usual shopping season led to the weakest holiday season since 1990, the International Council of Shopping Centers reported.

Gren Sims, general manager of the Meadows Mall in the central Las Vegas Valley, said he expects this to be a good holiday season, not just because of the stronger economy, but because the mall recently completed its renovations.

The 25-year-old mall unveiled last week its renovated interior, complete with new ceilings, lighting, and restrooms, just in time for the holiday shopping season. The food court also was renovated and three escalators and an elevator were replaced, Sims said.

"I think it's going to be a good holiday season," he said. "Once we got through this major construction sales have been very good and retailers are pleased with how their sales are trending. With the grand reopening and the holiday push, we're on a roll for a good holiday."

Michael Minden, owner of Michael E. Minden and Co. Jewelers, said he has high expectations for this holiday shopping season.

Minden recently moved his store location from East Sahara, just west of U.S. 95, to the Fashion Show mall on the Strip.

"The reason why we moved was to meet the growing demands and expectations of Las Vegas jewelry-buying community," he said.

Minden said there has been a lot of excitement, and a lot of traffic, with the mall's completion of its expansion and with industry-driven jewelry trends driving sales.

There are several new retail centers for shoppers to head to this holiday season, including the Las Vegas Premium Outlets, MonteLago Village at Lake Las Vegas and Mandalay Place.

Elton Salinas, owner of Elton's, a high-end men's clothier in Mandalay Place, said he's optimistic that Mandalay Place will draw not only tourists but also local holiday shoppers.

"Between the sky bridge, 400 dedicated parking spaces, and unique stores, when word gets out I am convinced that people will come here," he said. "I think it's going to be huge."

Nationwide, shoppers plan to spend an average of $528 on gifts this year. The western and northeastern parts of the country lead the nation in projected spending, with shoppers in those areas planning to spend $543 this holiday season, MACResearch, a division of The Macerich Co., reported.

By comparison to 2002, 28.6 percent of shoppers plan to spend more money on gifts this year than last, with 50 percent spending the same amount, MACResearch reported.