EARLY SHOPPERS HAVE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON.Byline: Sandy Yang Staff Writer Christmas shoppers packed local malls Saturday, braving jammed parking lots and crowded aisles not just for the bargains, they said, but because it could get worse in the weeks ahead. ``The lines haven't been that long,'' said Canoga Park resident Rose Kinzel at the Northridge Fashion Center Northridge Fashion Center is a large shopping mall located in Northridge, California. It opened in 1971. It was severely damaged during the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, but renovated extensively in 1995 and 1998. on Saturday afternoon. ``The madness hasn't set in yet.'' That was also the reason Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. resident Sue Sanders Sue Sanders (born 20 March 1947 in London) is, as an "out and proud" lesbian, a British LGBT rights activist who has specialized in challenging oppression in the public and voluntary sectors for over thirty years. came during Thanksgiving weekend, calling Christmas shopping ``a necessary evil.'' ``If I waited until later, you couldn't walk without bumping into someone,'' Sanders said, as she waited for her daughter outside Forever 21 at the Northridge Fashion Center. ``The worst part about shopping, though, is parking,'' Sanders said. ``It took me about 10 minutes to find a spot.'' When she finally grabbed a space, she made another driver mad. ``He yelled at me when I parked,'' she said. ``I got there first.'' Some shoppers escaped to strip malls strip mall n. A shopping complex containing a row of various stores, businesses, and restaurants that usually open onto a common parking lot. Noun 1. for their shopping needs, avoiding the bigger crowds at the indoor malls. San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. resident Juan Aguilar brought his list to a Kay Bee Toy Store A toy store, or toy shop, is a retail business specializing in the services of selling toys. No longer held to the limitations of the brick and mortar outlet, the toy store has successfully created a presence within the e-commerce industry. in Granada Village, a plaza in Granada Hills. ``I'm shopping for my nephews, and I came to this store because it's less crowded than at the mall,'' Aguilar said. Merchants have also taken a part in making the shopping experience easier for customers. Karen Gilbert, manager of gifts and novelty store Whimsical whim·si·cal adj. 1. Determined by, arising from, or marked by whim or caprice. See Synonyms at arbitrary. 2. Erratic in behavior or degree of unpredictability: a whimsical personality. Wares Inc. in the Granada Hills Plaza, also sells her products online. Even if Whimsical Wares doesn't experience the same foot traffic as a store in the mall, Gilbert said, the exposure comes from the Internet, and this year has brought the greatest exposure as consumers have more confidence in online shopping. ``We ship everyday all around the world, and it's more convenient to our customers,'' Gilbert said. The holiday weekend didn't just draw shoppers. At the Fallbrook Mall in West Hills, about 10 protesters picketed outside Burlington Coat Factory Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 360 stores in 42 states (as of 2006). In early 2007, the first location to be opened in Canada will be at the Vaughan Mills mall in Toronto. with posters of skinned dogs and a recording of a tortured mink - part of a national campaign by animal rights group Last Chance for Animals. Last Chance founder Chris DeRose Chris DeRose (born June 28, 1948) in Brooklyn, New York is an animal rights activist and a former actor. He appeared on General Hospital, Cagney and Lacey, CHiPs, The Rockford Files and Baretta. He was an on camera reporter for the television shows Hard Copy and Inside Edition. said Burlington Coat Factory uses fur trimmings. Officials from the Burlington Coat Factory could not be reached for comment. ``I'm surprised by the positive response by people,'' DeRose said. ``They thought the fur in here was fake, and the sad thing is they really don't need it because 99.9 percent of what they sell doesn't have fur.'' Shoppers and merchants were involved in other causes. Collector's Guide to the Galaxy in the Fallbrook Mall will throw parties for children in hospitals in the next few weeks. Whimsical Wares Inc. will donate a part of its proceeds to animal charities. |
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