Is anything planned for Black Friday at Sunrise Mall?

By Sara Beth Williams–
The declining number of stores remaining in business at Sunrise Mall have some steep discounts planned for Black Friday.

On the day before Thanksgiving, several stores had signs out in front of their entrances advertising promotions and deals. Some were specific to Black Friday, while others were currently going on as of Nov. 27.

Torrid was observed to have advertisements of “50% off everything” during Black Friday. Claire’s was also advertising a “First Dibs” deal on Black Friday where everything Wicked, Disney, Stitch, and Hello Kitty are to be marked 40 percent off. Claire’s staff on Monday said in a phone call that the store will be running its buy three, get three free deal, and that certain bracelets, necklaces, and earrings will be discounted as well.

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Ron’s Jewelers is advertising diamond jewelry marked at 70 to 80 percent off. Spencer’s staff said the store is currently running a Buy One Get One Half Off promotion on multiple items and will continue to run the offer through Black Friday.

Management at Lids said Monday that the store is also selling hats for $20 with some exclusions and anticipates that other promotions will be announced to staff from corporate prior to opening on Black Friday.

Reminiscent of 2020 during the height of the pandemic, numerous retail and restaurant spaces inside the mall remain vacant, with lettering removed from signage leaving a ghostly outline of the logos that once branded the stores. Recently, the south side of the mall has been gated off on the inside, and exterior side doors ave been padlocked on one side of the building.

The most recent closure appears to be a mobile coffee cart, which stood in the center of the food court. Several other stores and restaurants left at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, and a watch and jewelry repair shop relocated from the Sunrise Mall across the street to the Marketplace at Birdcage.

According to Sunrise Mall’s website, the mall plans to operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Black Friday.

Plans to redevelop the nearly 100-acre Sunrise Mall property have been in the works for years, with the city adopting a Sunrise Tomorrow Specific Plan to guide redevelopment at the mall. Most recently, developer Ethan Conrad Properties submitted a proposal to amend the city’s plan to allow for multiple quick-service restaurants and drive-thru businesses, building and landscape materials sales, light industrial and storage uses, and automotive uses, as well as the removal of requirements for open space.

The proposal was initially slated to be discussed during a City Council meeting in November, but the presentation was postponed at Conrad’s request.

Related: Presentation postponed for Sunrise Mall development proposal