Rockaway Townsquare to open at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving

For the second straight Thanksgiving, Morris County residents can go straight from a belly-buster meal to a door-buster deal.

Rockaway Townsquare mall, Morris County's biggest shopping destination, will open its doors at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving. But don't plan on an all-nighter. Unlike last year, when the mall opened at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving stayed open straight through to 10 p.m. the next night, the doors will close at 1 a.m. Friday before swinging back open five hours later — at 6 a.m. — for the usual Black Friday madness.

A mall spokesperson said holiday hours were altered this year after receiving feedback from both retailers and customers. Last year, Rockaway Townsquare security reported that shopper traffic slowed considerably between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. on Black Friday.

Regular hours at the mall are 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. But on Black Friday, closing is extended to 10 p.m., while Saturday hours have been stretched from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, the mall will wrap the first weekend of the holiday shopping season from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

From that point until Christmas, the mall will offer extra shopping hours on certain days. So far, management has posted expanded hours of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Dec. 11 to 13. Updates on expanded hours will post at www.shoprockawaytownsquare.com.

According to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, 29.5 percent of holiday shoppers in the United States (67.6 million) say they will shop on Black Friday, down slightly from 31.6 percent (69.4 million) who planned to do so last year. Overall, 61.1 percent of shoppers (140.1 million) say they will or may shop at some point between Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the following weekend. That figure is nearly identical to last year's preliminary survey results of 140.3 million.

Rockaway Townsquare will have greeters stationed at each mall entrance with goodie bags for customers when it opens on Thanksgiving, and Guest Services will also provide special treats to customers. Strolling carolers will provide entertainment throughout the evening as well.

The first 100 shoppers on Black Friday morning will receive a free cup of coffee at Guest Services along with other treats, and a jazz band will play during the day.

Additional shopper programs planned for the holiday season and include more holiday entertainment performances, a shuttle that will transport shoppers around the mall's perimeter and charity gift-wrapping stations.

"We are offering extra holiday hours to meet our customers' needs, from the person looking for the latest fashion and styles of the season to the family hunting for great deals to the last-minute shopper in search of the perfect gift," said Maria Gregorius, area director of marketing and business development for Rockaway Townsquare.

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-428-6627; wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com.