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WILKES-BARRE — Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season, with many big-box stores opening earlier than ever this year on the holiday and staying open until the wee hours of Friday.
Meanwhile, stores such as JCPenney will open as early as 2 p.m. Thursday and will not close until Friday night. Other retailers, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, will remain closed Thursday, opening instead bright and early at 6 Friday morning.
During JCPenney’s all-nighter, it is offering deals such as a Samsung 55-inch HD 4K Smart TV for $499.99. Best Buy is offering a similar TV, a 60-inch LED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV, for $599.99.
Another popular trend among retail giants is closing stores in the early hours of the morning, to prepare for second-wave shoppers Friday. Boscov’s will be open from 6 p.m. Thursday to 1 a.m. Friday, then plans to re-open at 6 a.m. Friday.
Here are some Wyoming Valley retail store hours:
• JCPenney – opens 2 p.m. Thanksgiving through 10 p.m. Friday
• Old Navy – opens 3 p.m. Thanksgiving until 1 a.m. Friday, reopens 3 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m.
• Boscov’s – opens 6 p.m. Thanksgiving until 1 a.m. Friday, then re-opens at 6 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m.
• Best Buy – opens 5 p.m. Thanksgiving until 1 a.m. Friday, re-opens 8 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m.
• Macy’s – opens 5 p.m. Thanksgiving until 2 a.m. Friday, re-opens 6 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m.
• Dick’s Sporting Goods – opens 6 p.m. Thanksgiving until 2 a.m., re-opens 5 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m.
Small Business Saturday
What started in 2010 as a way to combat Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday now serves as a way for shoppers to take advantage of locally-owned businesses across the country.
In the Wyoming Valley, there will be no shortage of options, with the Holiday Pop-Up Shops in Midtown Village opening at 10 a.m. Saturday with a ribbon-cutting.
The Diamond City Partnership, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Wilkes-Barre Business Association announced the project earlier this month as a way to showcase that area business owners want to be a part of downtown Wilkes-Barre.
“The downtown needs more independent retail,” said Larry Newman, executive director of the Diamond City Partnership.
“It’s been tough to attract new retail businesses back to the downtown, but through this proactive effort, we hope to reverse that trend.”
The Holiday Pop-Up Shops will be open from Thursday through Saturday each week with select hours.
“Our hope is that some of these businesses will consider opening up a store after the project ends,” Newman said.
The retailers participating in the pop-up shops: Buka, Nawrocki Imports, Mia Bella Candles, Scent Sations Inc., Michael Allen Designs, Whipped Sweet Shoppe, The Bearded Ladies, Brittany Boote, Alan McLaughlin, MadebyDMarie, Threegirls Oils, Sip N Silk and Natalie’s Craft Kombucha.
Lindsey Bezick, vice president of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, echoed Newman, saying she was excited for people to come see what local businesses have to offer.
“We hope to get people out and about,” she said. “We have a full day planned.”
In addition to the shops, there are other specials going on downtown, including:
• Anthracite Not Just A Newsstand – Purchase $20 in Christmas Lottery instant tickets and receive a free $1 ticket of your choice; 10 percent off any freshly prepared food at the food counter from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Bee Hive Gift Shop — 20 percent off all in-stock purchases; free refreshments; and a gift with a purchase from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cheesesteak Factory– Free bag of chips and free soda with purchase of 8-inch cheesesteak.
• Dino’s Pizza Express– Buy one 18-inch cheese pizza, get second 18-inch cheese pizza half off from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• El Zocalo Mexican Restaurant– $5 off purchase of $25 or more from noon to 9 p.m.
• F.M. Kirby Center– Art market in the lobby. Box office selling holiday THANKS discount from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Iorio Jewelers– Extra 10 percent off on sterling silver jewelry and watches from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Marquis Art & Frame– 20 percent off custom picture framing and 20 percent off regularly priced art materials from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Mimmo’s Pizza and Restaurant– Large 18-inch cheese pizza $8.49 plus tax (no limit) all day.
• Top of the Slope Ski Shop Inc.– 10 percent off all outerwear from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Tuxedo By Sarno – 25 percent off retail suits and tuxedos. Half off tuxedo rentals for whole wedding party plus a free tux for groom with five paid rentals from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Hartman Jerk Center – $5 off purchase of $25 or more from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• MUSICAL ENERGI – 10 percent off all used records, CDs and DVDs when you mention Small Business Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• King of Kings Gyros on Public Square – $11 gyro and rice platter from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Bodyworks by Maria Genetti– $3 off a 10-minute chair massage ($12 sale price; $15 full price); $5 off gift certificates for future massages from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside Kirby Center.
• Franklin’s – Buy two large 16-inch pizzas for $16.99 (dine in or takeout, regular or sweet sauce) from noon to midnight.
• Rodano’s – Buy two large 16-inch pizzas for $16.99 (dine in or takeout, regular or sweet sauce) from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Around Town Bicycles – 10 percent off bicycles; 20 percent off accessories.
• One Stop Pop Shop – Downtown Wilkes-Barre’s newest small business, offering gourmet popcorn and candy.