Local mall expects smaller crowds

Black Friday with the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to look a bit different this year.

Lynette Myers, marketing manager for the Yuba Sutter Marketplace, said stores aren’t expected to have their typical doorbusters early in the morning.

“What they’re doing is they’re offering deals all month long,” Myers said. “They’ve been going on since the beginning of the month and continuing in the stores and online.”

She said the mall will be open a little earlier – with Black Friday hours being 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

“We don’t expect huge crowds but we’re preparing for that,” Myers said. “... Even though there might not be as many people at the mall, there may be some people waiting in line at the stores because of limits (on how many people can be in the stores at a time).”

She said they’ve been making sure stores have their social distancing markers in place and that stores have been doing well at monitoring and sticking to the rules.

“Just remember to adhere to all of the mandates,” Myers said. “We have procedures in place to keep everybody safe.”

Micki Poole, of Poole’s Jewelers in Yuba City, said they will be having a buy-one-get-one-half-off special on a fashion line – Uno de 50 – on Black Friday.

Poole said, however, Black Friday isn’t usually a huge weekend for jewelers because most people think of things like electronics.

“We are expecting a very strong (holiday) season,” she said.

With COVID-19, Poole said, they keep the door locked and only allow three people in the store at a time and ask that everyone wears a mask.

They also check identification before people enter the store.

“I think we’re well stocked to satisfy just about any budget,” Poole said.

Poole’s Jewelers is located at 1258 Stabler Lane, #140, Yuba City, and is open 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. – Poole said they will be open their regular hours on Friday.