Trend: Shoppers are heading back to malls

(Photo courtesy : Twenty Ninth Street). Trend: Shoppers are Heading Back to Malls

BY BRITTANY ANAS

HOLIDAY GUIDE

From posing with Santa for photos to the festive holiday displays that decorate store windows, malls almost feel like they ’re local branches of the North Pole this time of year. Plus, for those with extra-long nice lists, there’s a good deal of convenience that comes with having a one-stop shop to find gifts for everyone because, as we all know, the most wonderful time of year is also the busiest.

Mall traffic everywhere plummeted during the pandemic, with many shoppers turning to online retailers to fulfill their holiday orders amid stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures. But analysts say the mall is back, and shopping centers have done a good job focusing on the in-person customer experience by providing entertainment options and great places to dine.

Take, for instance, Twenty Ninth Street, where you can pop in to BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse after a day of shopping and order a seasonal Grand Cru beer spiced with orange peel and coriander. Or, at FlatIron Crossing, take a break from shopping to check out the holiday cookie selection at Mary ’s Mountain Cookies.

Plus, for those who are in the giving spirit, both Twenty Ninth Street and FlatIron Crossing are hosting special events and opportunities for shoppers to share their holiday spirit to support St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. The organization cares for children experiencing cancer and other lifethreatening illnesses.

Here’s how to knock out your shopping and simultaneously get in the holiday spirit and give back at Boulder area malls this year.

Twenty Ninth Street

Shoppers will notice some new storefronts in Twenty Ninth Street this holiday season, like Nike by Boulder which is stocked with gifts fit for the runners, yogis and other athletes on your list. The 5,870 square-foot store offers a seamless hybrid shopping experience for those who want to compare in-store inventory with what’s online via the Nike app.

Meanwhile, Parachute is a modern home store with soft and snuggly giftable items like robes and blankets and Roark sells clothings, bags and accessories fit for the stylish and discerning travelers on your list.

Also, beloved New York ice cream shop Van Leeuwen opened a scoop shop in Boulder, serving decadent French-style ice cream that’s extra creamy thanks to a recipe that calls for double the amount of egg yolks as standard ice cream. Be on the lookout for holiday flavors like a peppermint stick ice cream available in December and others like browned butter chai latte and vegan gingerbread available throughout the winter.

Twenty Ninth Street will also have extended center hours (both early and late) and many stores are offering options like curbside pickup, dining takeout and buying online and picking up in store.

FlatIron Crossing

Santa is back in Broomfield and families can pre-book their photos with Santa this year. There’s also several Santa-centric events and sessions at the mall, including pet nights with Santa, a sensory Santa and story times with Santa.

“FlatIron Crossing is excited to deliver outstanding in-person holiday experiences for shoppers this year, ” says Heather Drake, senior marketing manager. “From getting up close and personal with Santa to enjoying live, on-site musical performances through our Sights & Sounds of the Season – we believe people are hungry for the classic, in-person holiday experiences they ’ ve missed these past couple of years. ”

The mall has popular gift shops like Build-A-Bear Workshop, Dick’s Sporting Goods, GameStop, John Antencio, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, My Colorado Store and more.

FlatIron Crossing is also giving shoppers the opportunity to fulfill children’s gift wishes by partnering with A Precious Child on their Precious Gift program.

The mall also has extended hours leading up to the holidays.

Village at the Peaks

In Longmont, the Village at the Peaks is a shopping and entertainment hub with plenty of dining options plus a 12-screen Regal Cinemas, where you can catch a new release or a classic holiday movie.

Shoppers here have the added bonus of being able to stock up on everything they need for holiday parties, whether that’s bottles of wine and winter beers from Wyatt’s Wet Goods, decor from Party City and grocery hauls from Sam’s Club or Whole Foods.

The mall will host a tree lighting ceremony from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 3, with Santa making his grand entrance. In addition to lighting up the tree, the evening will include cameos by Santa and his elves, live music and plenty of photo opportunities.