Mall of America draws 200,000 on Black Friday
It was 2:00 in the afternoon and 10 degrees cold on Thanksgiving in Bloomington, Minn., when a local family established their position as the first bargain hunters who would enter the doors when they opened at 7:00 the following morning.
Some 200,000 more followed before those doors were shut at 9:00 p.m.
“That same family has headed the line for years,” said Jill Renslow, MOA’s chief business development and marketing officer. “It’s become a Thanksgiving tradition for them, no matter what the weather.”
Guests entering the North Entrance doors on Black Friday they were given a “Mystery Card” that revealed what prize was in store for them. There were three different card values that rose from Silver to Gold to Doorbuster Mystery Cards, whose bearers claimed prizes worth up to $600 delivered by Christmas characters that busted through a door.
The first 200 people in line received $25 Mall of America gift cards in addition to their Mystery Card. One grand winner received $2,500 donated by Pepsi.
“We don’t have actual sales totals as yet, but we surveyed our tenants and more than half of them experienced better sales than they did last year,” Renslow said. “There were huge lines at Lego, Lululemon, Hollister, North Face, and American Eagle.”
Mastercard SpendingPulse reported that Black Friday retail sales excluding automotive purchases were up by 3.4% over last year.
With Thanksgiving coming late this year, many tenants staged sales on the weekend prior to the holiday that saw traffic rise about 10% above average, according to Renslow.
“This is our team’s favorite day of the year, and we are so excited to be celebrating with all our guests,” Renslow said. “Through the years, we have learned what truly makes a difference is how you make someone feel.”
[READ MORE: Simon: Traffic up 6.4% across portfolio over Black Friday weekend]
Guests who visit Mall of America on Cyber Monday can enjoy 40% off annual passes and 30% off unlimited ride wristbands at Nickelodeon Universe plus buy-one-get-one-free general admission tickets to Crayola Experience.
