Ultimate Black Friday Shopping Guide to America's Best Mega Malls

Nov. 26, 2014

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7 min read

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If you’re amongst the 90 million people expected to travel during Thanksgiving weekend, your holiday plans might mean spending Black Friday in uncharted shopping territory. To solve this retail dilemma, TPG Contributor Liana Lozada has rounded up the best mega-mall Black Friday promotions around the country. Read on for info on around-the-clock hours and hard-to-resist incentives.

Miami

An entrance to Aventura Mall, home to over 300 retailers and brands.

Aventura Mall - Standing as the third largest mall in the country, Aventura Mall, located in Miami’s Aventura, fills three floors with retail’s best brands. Come Thanksgiving, among the unbeatable deals are buy two, get one free stocking stuffers at L’Occitane and 30% off at White House, Black Market. The whole family can take a breather at the new Citi® Lounge in Center Court while the young ones burn some energy at Santa’s Village and the vintage train station. Black Friday Hours: 6 p.m. to Midnight Thanksgiving Day; reopening at 6 a.m. Black Friday.

Sawgrass Mills - Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet destination in the United States lies 35 miles north of Miami International Airport and 17 miles northwest of Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport. The 350+ store juggernaut boasts high-low offerings, including the newly opened Vera Bradley outlet, as well as the recently expanded Coach Factory and Kate Spade New York outlets. Specialty stores include Brandsmart USA, LEGO Brand Retail Store, and Columbia Sportswear Outlet. Black Friday Hours: 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 9 p.m. Black Friday--27 whopping hours straight!

New York

The Shops at Columbus Circle's spirited holiday entrance.

The Shops at Columbus Circle - Time Warner Center’s The Shops at Columbus Circle stand at Manhattan's core (59th and Broadway). What The Shops lack in volume, they make up for in luxury, offering a condensed, but impactful shopping experience in tandem with New York City’s heartbeat. Seeking handbags and accessories? Cruciani, Etienne Aigner, and L.K.Bennett will all offer at least 20% off select merchandise. Need some R&R from the retail grind? Aveda is giving guests complimentary tea and stress-relieving pamperings, as well as hosting a holiday Feng Shui seminar at 1 p.m. Black Friday Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Black Friday.

Palisades Center - A day trip to the Palisades Center in Nyack, New York is a popular pastime for urbanites living within the metropolitan area. The mall's Old Navy location is slashing 50% off the entire store while GEOX will do the same for shoes. The Palisades directory recently welcomed The Art of Shaving and F&F, and also boasts complimentary WiFi throughout the property. Black Friday Hours: 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 9:30 p.m. Black Friday.

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Chicago

Fashion Outlets of Chicago - “Fashionably Late,” the Fashion Outlet’s signature late-night shopping soiree is back this Thanksgiving night. Festivities kick off at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving evening. Expect DJs spinning over the party’s dance floor, as well as surprise incentives throughout the mall. While dropping into stores like Aldo, Gucci, and Barney’s New York Warehouse, make sure to follow and post to the hashtag #FashionablyLate to keep up with event giveaways and promotions. Black Friday Hours: 10 p.m. Thanksgiving Day through Black Friday.

Woodfield Mall - Illinois' biggest shopping center, Woodfield Mall, lies just 25 miles away from downtown Chicago, and will stay open for an unparalleled 28 uninterrupted hours. Peruse over 300 retailers, including Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Nordstrom, JCPenney and Sears, as well as popular labels like Michael Kors, Apple, and Anthropologie. Black Friday Hours: 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 10 p.m. Black Friday.

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Atlanta

Lenox Square's recently renovated exterior entrance.

Lenox Square - Lenox Square in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood is a fashion lover’s playground. With over 250 stores from covetable designers like Louis Vuitton, Cartier and Fendi, the upscale-leaning haunt beckons spenders on Thanksgiving. The mall’s Pandora outpost is unveiling its limited edition Black Friday charm on Thanksgiving Day, and is currently accepting preorders. Meanwhile, Bose is hosting 40% off select items the entire week. Snag sportswear deals from Athleta and Lacoste. Black Friday Hours: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thanksgiving Day; reopening at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.

San Francisco

Westfield San Francisco Centre - Westfield San Francisco Centre's Express outpost is offering 15% off entire purchases throughout November, and J.Crew is taking 15% off teachers' tabs through December. Carlton Hair International is taking 30% off all hot hair tools and gift sets, as well as 20% off Bumble and Bumble and Kerastase products. Additional Westfield stores, like Bose, Tory Burch, and Zara also make visiting worth the early morning trek. Take a seat under the mall's iconic Dome for ongoing 3D lit Nutcracker performances by the San Francisco Ballet. Black Friday Hours: Opening at 7 a.m. on Black Friday.

Los Angeles

The Beverly Center's Art Deco-inspired holiday installation sparkles outside L'Occitane.

Beverly Center - To help ease the retail ruckus, the Beverly Center is making self-parking free from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. for its Black Friday shoppers. Note: That’s unheard of in LA. The famed mall at Beverly Hills and West Hollywood’s edge is anchored by Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s, with 160 diverse stores, from high-end to junior. The Beverly Center recently minted UNIQLO’s Los Angeles flagship store, as well as expanded Salvatore Ferragamo and Burberry locations. Black Friday Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Black Friday.

The Grove - Known to host prime time television broadcasts and headlining concerts, Los Angeles' outdoor shopping spot The Grove is helping lessen holiday mayhem by partnering with ride service, Uber. Starting Black Friday, shoppers who spend $450 or more at The Grove receive a complimentary UberBLACK car ride to their desired location. The tourist and local's-friendly promo isn’t the only thing luring shoppers there on Black Friday. Trendy hotspot Revolve just opened a seasonal pop-up, and neighboring stores include Topshop Topman, Nike Running, and UGG Australia. Black Friday Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Black Friday.

Minneapolis

The four-floor rotunda at Mall of America.

Mall of America - Mall of America’s four sprawling floors and 4.87 million square-feet of gross building area (yes, you read that correctly!) see 40 million visitors annually, more than any other shopping center in the country. The mall opens Thanksgiving evening to host a military charity fundraiser with $10 all-you-can-ride Nickelodeon Universe amusement park access. Kiddos and grownups can enjoy the network-powered carrousel, roller coaster and bumper cars. The weekend-long celebrations include a tweet-powered snowstorm and performance by British pop group Rixton. As for the shopping, hit Nordstrom Rack for 30% off red tag merchandise and The Afternoon for 50% off toys. Black Friday Hours: 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day to 10 p.m. Black Friday.

TPG Tip: When it comes to shopping, be sure to use a card with buyer protection, like the Platinum Card from American Express.

What's you Black Friday shopping strategy? Do you hit the malls or avoid the madness?

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.