MIDLAND, Texas — President's Day not only gives people a three-day weekend, but also a chance to take advantage of some holiday deals.
Holiday weekends bring opportunity for both shoppers and retailers.
At Midland Park Mall, they see both short-term and long-term impacts with increased shoppers. The mall saw plenty of activity on Monday to cap off a busy holiday weekend, a sign that brick-and-mortar stores continue to trend in the right direction.
It was not an ordinary Monday for Midland Park Mall.
“We’re considering this really busy," said Heather Anderson, director of Marketing and Business Development for Midland Park Mall. "It takes a really good team, both with our retailers and with the mall staff and maintenance and housekeeping – keeping the parking lot clean [and] keeping the center clean as well.”
Anderson said this year strengthened a recent trend.
“It was actually busier this weekend than we’ve seen in previous years, but we are seeing an influx of shopping and shoppers and retail spending than we have in years past," Anderson said. "So, brick-and-mortar’s here to stay and we’re really happy that the crowds came out.”
Crowds that have come back to pre-COVID numbers.
“It’s definitely easing the minds of our retailers who are here in West Texas and here to stay, and it’s also bringing in new-to-the-area retailers – people that you don’t see anywhere else," Anderson said. "So, we always expect to see a couple new places come through here.”
With many retailers holding sales, it gives shoppers an experience.
“We all appreciate a three-day weekend, time with our families and time to go and spend time with our family members – such as coming to the mall and doing some shopping – and we do see that a lot when we have three-day weekends is families are together," Anderson said. "They’re shopping, they’re laughing, they’re buying [and] they’re having a good time.”
On this President’s Day, more activity equals excitement.
"We really enjoy the turnout because they'll come for a certain sale or promotion, but while they're here, they're going to see and explore a lot of our other brands, and it encourages them to tell their friends and tell their family members about all the other stores and features that we have here at the mall," Anderson said.
Although Monday marked the end of the three-day weekend, Anderson added that some President's Day deals will stick around through this week.
While this holiday weekend was busy for Midland Park Mall, they will also be hosting Cirque Italia in the parking lot from Feb. 22 through Feb. 25.