Malls prep for holiday shopping, events. Here's what they have planned

Can local malls make a Christmas comeback?

Last year, the researchers at Placer.ai reported a 7.4% year-over-year drop in visits to the Neshaminy Mall during the week of Black Friday. The company uses cell phone data to monitor shopping habits. Visits to the Willow Grove Park mall fell by 8.9% and foot traffic to the Montgomery Mall was down 18.4%, according to Placer.ai data.

Now, some area malls are planning activities to drive holiday traffic. Hot cocoa will be offered and you can get a caricature image of your pet with Santa. Most will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas but will have extended hours during the holiday season.

But will it work? Moody's Analytics said it expects middle-income and lower-income Americans to spend more time in discount stores than malls this holiday season.

"This group has eaten away all its savings and is now spending more than they are bringing in, as we are seeing delinquencies on auto and credit cards rising," said Christopher Rosin, an economist at Moody's. "As this group in the lower-income level loses disposable income, they are changing where they shop and the type of stores they are pulling away from most are mid-tier stores such as Target and Walmart."

Here's a look at the state of malls in Bucks County and nearby, and what special events they are offering this holiday season.

More: Thanksgiving is weeks away. Here’s when to get the COVID booster so you’re protected

More: Malls closing their doors on Thanksgiving. Who's shutting down for the holiday?

Christmas at Oxford Valley Mall

The 10th largest mall in Pennsylvania has gone through dizzying changes since it was first opened 1973. The Gimbel's department store became a Stern's. The Bamberger's anchor store became a Macy's. Then, the Stern's became a Sears. A Woolworth's was transformed into a food court. Now, its down to just a Macy's and JCPenney and apartments are being constructed on the site.

In a recent report to investors, Simon Properties said the mall was 80% occupied and listed as its biggest draws the JCPenney, Macy's and, an United Artist Movie Theater. Oxford Valley boasted a 93% occupancy rate prior to the pandemic in 2019.

A pet-photo day with Santa is scheduled Dec. 10.

Holiday hours: Thanksgiving: Closed; Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Christmas: Closed; New Year's Eve and New Year's Day: 11: a.m. to 6 p.m.

Shopping at Neshaminy Mall

Opened in 1968 with Sears and a Strawbridge & Clothier, the Neshaminy Mall once boasted a white-cloth table restaurant on a promenade overlooking a fountain and a kids' clothing store with its own playground.

But that's all gone, now.

In Bensalem, the assessed property value of the Neshaminy Mall has dropped 42%, from $6.3 million, since 2020 to $3.6 million currently, county records show. Even before the pandemic, Brookfield stated that "the retail marketplace was struggling" and noted competition from the nearby Oxford Valley and Philadelphia Mills (formerly Franklin Mills) malls.

While closed on Thanksgiving, the Neshaminy Mall will have extended hours through Dec. 25. Two nights were set aside for pet pictures with Santa.

Holiday hours: Thanksgiving: Closed; Black Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Christmas Eve: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Christmas: Closed; New Year's Eve and New Year's Day: TBA

Montgomery Mall holiday shopping

Need to get your shopping fix on the holidays?

Montgomery Mall is one of the few shopping centers that will be open on most holidays this season.

The mall has struggled in recent years. The Montgomery Mall was bought in 2021 by the Kohan Retail Investment Group for $55 million, court records show. It was once valued at $195 million.

When it was owned by Simon Properties, that company had reported 73% of its retail space under lease, according to a 2021 10-K annual report for investors. Not a publicly traded company, Kohan is not required to file such reports, and the company did not immediately respond to requests for information about holiday events.

Holiday hours: Thanksgiving: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Black Friday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Christmas Eve: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Christmas: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; New Year's Eve 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and New Year's Day: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

King of Prussia Christmas

Our area's largest mall is diving into Christmas with holiday gift giving events at specific stores. Among them, the David Yurman jewelery store promises free champagne and chocolates at an event set for Nov. 18.

King of Prussia boasts a 97.1% occupancy rate with some 450 stores, making it one of the largest retail centers in America.

Santa will be there through Christmas Eve. Pet photos with Santa are are scheduled for Dec. 10.

Holiday hours: Thanksgiving: Closed; Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Christmas Eve: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Christmas: Closed; New Year's Eve and New Year's Day: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Willow Grove Park mall holiday events

The Willow Grove Park mall has scheduled five holiday events.

Outside the Macy's department store, shoppers will find a card-making table to send well wishes to children in area hospitals. Free pet-photo-with-Santa caricature days are scheduled for Nov. 27, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11. And, on Dec. 16, the mall is giving out free hot chocolate from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The mall also plans "Buy Local, Buy Black" holiday pop-up shops.

Located on a former amusement park, the three-story Willow Grove Park mall has a 99.7%, according to annual investor reports submitted by it's owner, the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. Current anchors include Bloomingdales, Macy's, Primark, and the arcade Tilted 10.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: With holidays here, malls hope to lure shoppers with special events