Black Friday is a stressful moment of the year.
It can include waiting in line early in the morning, racing to the back aisle for merchandise, or furiously refreshing the Best Buy website to buy a PlayStation as soon as it restocks (no, I wouldn’t know anything about that).
While the significance of a single shopping day on the calendar has expanded — many retailers have had Black Friday deals in place for weeks ahead of Thanksgiving — for many, the day still is a chance to work off those calories from Thanksgiving dinner and check off holiday wish lists.
To make your Black Friday planning easier, The Morning Call has compiled a list of hours as well as stores that have opened this year that are worth visiting.
When are the malls open on Black Friday?
Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township will be open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Black Friday, spokesperson Amber Wong said.
The mall’s holiday events include photos with Santa Claus through Dec. 24, pet photos with Santa at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and a sensory-friendly experience with Santa for children with special needs at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 7.
Shoppers can check the Simon Property Group website for Black Friday deals from retailers such as Pandora and Macy’s.
Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Marketing Manager Madeleine Convery said.
It will host events such as horse-drawn carriage rides with Elphaba, Elsa and other characters until Dec. 21, photos with Santa through Dec. 24, pet photos with Santa on Dec. 4 and 11, and story time with Santa at 9:15 a.m. Dec. 7.
Palmer Park Mall will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to its website.
Festivities there include pictures with Santa through Dec. 24, photos with the Grinch at 10 a.m. Saturday, Black Friday deals from Boscov’s and other retailers, and the “Shop Small Saturday” vendor event at 10 a.m. Nov. 29.
Pocono Premium Outlets in Pocono Township is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Holiday events include “Festive Fridays” for photo ops and crafts at noon Dec. 5, 12 and 19.
Deals are available on the Outlets website.
New retailers to visit in the Lehigh Valley
Kraft & Co. Floral and Gifts held a grand opening in January at the Simon Silk Mill in Easton. It offers flowers, bouquets, arrangements, customizable gift boxes, monthly artistic workshops such as for wreath making, online shopping and a flower bar for creating one’s own arrangements.
Play It Again Sports, a national chain for selling and buying used sports and fitness gear for all ages, opened at 1858 Catasauqua Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, in February.
The New York-style women’s boutique nyche opened in March at the Grand Eastonian Hotel & Suites at 140 Northampton St. in Easton, where customers can buy women’s coats, shirts, dresses, sweaters, pants, shoes and bags.
Furniture chain Decor Home Furniture opened in the former Rite Aid at 2178 W. Union Blvd. in Bethlehem, in March.
The thrift and consignment store DA’V Family Treasures opened in April at 660 Main St. in Slatington.
The handmade crafts stores Joint Goods and The Hive opened in April at 45 E. Belvidere St. in Nazareth and Promenade Saucon Valley, respectively.
The family-owned Blackbird Antiques opened in May at 19 Belvidere St. in Nazareth. It offers antiques that primarily date to before the 1970s and include artwork, furniture and kitchenware.
The luxury consignment store Relux held a grand opening in May at Promenade Saucon Valley.
The Soul Goods boutique celebrated its grand opening in May at 18 W. Race St. in Catasauqua. It sells items such as clothing, jewelry, antiques, cards and candles.
The Little Things boutique opened in May at 412 Chestnut St. in Emmaus, where it rotates high-end brands and sells items like apparel, jewelry, candles and coasters.
Hometown Spark Permanent Jewelry hosted a grand opening in May for its permanent home at 20 Main St., Unit B, in Slatington. It offers customizable permanent jewelry like gold and silver chains, detachable jewelry and a boutique section for other vendors’ offerings like natural products, clay art and homemade soaps.
The discount retail chain Ocean State Job Lot hosted a grand opening in June at 7150 Hamilton Blvd. in Upper Macungie Township.
The Lovely by Brianna home decor boutique held a grand opening in June at 450 Main St. in Bethlehem.
Bob’s Discount Furniture opened July 14 at 3764 Easton Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township.
Railroad Records opened in August at 335 Vine St. in Bethlehem. Customers can buy and exchange merchandise like records, CDs, tapes, books, antiques and vintage clothes.
Sorcery and Scripts opened in August at 74 W. Broad St., Suite 110, in Bethlehem. The store offers fantasy books, board games and events like book clubs.
The Whiff Shop perfume boutique opened in August at 119 Northampton St. in Easton.
The thrift store This, That & The Third Shop opened in October at Palmer Park Mall in Palmer Township.
Whitehall Coin & Jewelry opened in October at the MacArthur Center at 3690 Lehigh St. in Whitehall Township. It purchases and sells coins and bullion as well as jewelry such as customizable engagement rings, bracelets and necklaces.
Sunglass Hut opened at Promenade Saucon Valley, the shopping center announced in October, where it sells luxury and sports sunglasses.