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It’s a mad, mad world at area malls
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The parking lot at the Mall in Columbia fills with shoppers only two day before Christmas.
Columbia, Md (Map, News) - With last-minute sales on their minds, hundreds of people braved the Mall in Columbia. “Parking is hell,” said Robert Ramirez, 34, of Laurel.
“I’m parked way back there,” he said, pointing over the rows of cars jammed at odd angles into parking places Sunday.
Some people resorted to following shoppers leaving the mall and waiting for them to load bags into their cars, hoping to take their spots.
The mall was filled with the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers still hunting for gifts and children lining up to tell Santa Claus what they want for Christmas.
Men scrambled around the Macy’s makeup counters, smelling perfume samples and asking the employees for help in picking the right one.
Children pressed their noses against the pet store window and tapped the glass to wake up sleeping puppies.
To keep up their strength, shoppers stopped in the food court and searched for a table to grab a quick lunch.
“It’s been a mad house,” said Jami Linstrom, 18, of Columbia, who is working at Macy’s while on Christmas break from the University of Maryland, College Park.
“I’ll clean something up and then people come right back through and mess it all up,” Linstrom said as she folded items at a table strewn with sweaters.
Linstrom said the crowds peaked Saturday and she witnessed mall security catch two men shoplifting from the store.
“There was a lot of yelling, and it was kind of scary,” she said. “It’s been high stress.”
But security guards declined comment and said they were advised by mall management not to talk about security issues.
Nordstrom employees said they had no security issues, and the store had been relatively calm.
“It’s just long hours on your feet helping people,” said Brittany Mayo, 20, who is working in the Nordstrom jewelry department.
Outside the mall, Howard police have been dealing with thefts from cars. Since Nov. 30, 23 police reports have been filed of Global Positioning System units and other property being stolen from cars parked at the mall on Little Patuxent Parkway.
Howard police arrested Tony Brown, 37, of Owings Mills, on Friday after a witness saw him break into a car to steal a GPS unit. Police are investigating whether Brown committed any of the other
thefts.
Even though a suspect was caught, shoppers should remain cautious.
“There’s always more thefts,” said Howard police Sgt. C.A. Spano.
“It’s what keeps us in business.”
Christmas Eve hours for area malls
Anne Arundel
» Westfield Annapolis Mall: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
» Arundel Mills Mall: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
» Marley Station Mall: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Baltimore City
» Eastpoint Mall: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
» Harborplace and the Gallery: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Baltimore County
» Owings Mills Mall: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
» Security Square Mall: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
» Towson Town Center: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Carroll
» TownMall of Westminster: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Harford
» Harford Mall in Bel Air: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Howard
» The Mall in Columbia: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
» Historic Savage Mill: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
cpeirce@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
9:21 AM MST on Tue., Feb. 12, 2008 re: "Holidays fail to boost home sales"
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11:18 AM MST on Mon., Dec. 24, 2007
re: "It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world at region's malls"
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6:17 AM MST on Mon., Dec. 24, 2007
re: "Retailers find consumers are saving, not spending, this holiday season"
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9:23 PM MST on Tue., Dec. 18, 2007
re: "FedEx workers report early to ease heaviest day"
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Examiner Reader said:
If housing prices are down then many potential sellers will wait. Even when the housing market was normal a few years back it was not at the high seen with the zero interest deferred loans that have added to the problem. Actually it is a good time to buy.
111 agree | 88 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Why didn't they mention White Marsh Mall?
159 agree | 131 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I no longer go to the stores for Christmas shopping but do what many people of intelligence are now doing and that is taking small jewelry gift boxes, putting cash in them, and wrapping them up with Christmas paper and bows and ribbons, thus allowing the recipients to purchase after the holidays what they truly want and to spend it how and when they wish. I do this because the stores no longer have "Merry Christmas" signs, no longer play Christmas Carols, etc. And frankly the stores use Christmas to unload cheap and inferior merchandise that they have been unable to sell during the previous months.
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Examiner Reader said:
It's FedEx "courier", NOT FedEx "carrier".
178 agree | 161 disagree
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