The best of Black Fridays
Black Friday has always been about “doorbuster” deals and people lining up and knocking people over to get the TV on sale. Yes, shoppers are going to have transactional moments this year, of course, but our approach at American Dream is different.
Our center’s vision of blending entertainment, attractions, retail, food and beverage, and events is what sets us apart from other centers. We want to create an experience unlike any other that draws people out of their houses and into the shopping environment on one of the busiest retail days of the year. Through this experience, we get people to stay at American Dream. Guests are coming, shopping, and spending a day with us, with dwell times that set us apart from anywhere else in the region.
That’s what we are really trying to exemplify with our Black Friday approach this year. We believe that the property is now starting to show that we are becoming the future of retail. People can shop anywhere, especially in the age of e-commerce. What American Dream offers is an opportunity for our portfolio of retailers to serve guests who have decided to visit American Dream for the experience, and that is the differentiator for us.
The center is riding high following last year’s holiday season success, and we are looking to recreate that magic again this year. Four of the top six busiest days in American Dream’s history took place during the 2024 holiday season. Last year’s Black Friday was the third busiest day in the property’s history. We anticipate another strong December that will be great for our retailers.
Skiing and surfing into Christmas
This year, American Dream will kick things off at 6 a.m., with roller coasters open (including the tallest indoor coaster in North America). There’ll be indoor skiing and surfing available for guests to enjoy, along with characters from Nickelodeon Universe wandering the center and greeting visitors.
The first 250 guests to arrive at the center will win prizes — and also get the chance to grab them inside our signature human claw machine. Prizes include World Cup tickets, mini golf packages, theme park and water park buyouts, and much more.
Our Black Friday activations are just part of the festivities. Many of our retailers, including several luxury ones, are hosting special events and sales opportunities for guests. Our restaurant tenants will be open early as well to make sure that all guests’ needs are met.
Another focus of ours this year is catering to the various consumers who will visit the center through different day parts on Black Friday and throughout the holiday season. We have scheduled our events so that different groups such as moms with young kids or seniors have something to do at the center, allowing us to extend our operational hours.
It’s tough out there for consumers with inflation and prices rising. For us to be able to offer free events or experiences that people can enjoy and take part in at no cost is something we tried to do even more of this year. We wanted to make sure that everyone is able to have a great experience at American Dream, no matter the size of their budgets. We have a very diverse and broad set of consumers that visit our center, just as we have a very diverse and broad collection of retailers.
At American Dream, there really is something for everyone. We can offer guests one-of-a-kind experiences for no cost. Maybe a family can come in and have some fun by seeing the characters, or maybe by watching a live music set or seeing a celebrity YouTuber show up on stage.
The hallmark of our holiday season is that tens of thousands of visitors and shoppers whose backgrounds and beliefs span the globe will descend on our property to spend time with their loved ones.
