LIHU‘E — Thanksgiving comes before Christmas, said Melissa McFerrin-Warrack Saturday during the launch of Merry Little Shop &Stroll that included distributions of special swag bags that were booked out within hours of the Thursday announcement on the Kukui Grove Center website.
“Many of the retailers in the shopping center are starting their holiday push, early,” said McFerrin-Warrack, marketing and specialty leasing manager at KGC.
“They’re spreading holiday sales out throughout the month to promote social distancing and avoid the big crowds on Black Friday. Our focus is on how to support them, to meet the needs of customers and provide some holiday spirit, but to do so safely.”
Kaua‘i Bakery is encouraging customers to visit their website and place orders for Thanksgiving pies, including chocolate pecan, apple streusel, pumpkin, custard, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin crunch cake, carrot spice cake, assorted cream pies, butter rolls and pumpkin malasadas before the Saturday, Nov. 21 deadline. The bakers expect up to bake 500 pies before next week’s holiday.
A gratitude box at KGC also reminds shoppers that Thanksgiving comes first. Shoppers were invited to write their holiday wish and hang it on the Wishing Tree.
Distribution of Merry Little Shop &Stroll swag bags with passports sharing holiday deals and perks dominated Saturday, as the cache guided shoppers to see the first signs of the holiday season that included new holiday banners heralding the first holiday trees appearing in the selfie station adjacent to the Kaua‘i Society of Artists gallery, where the 2020 small work Big Show will open Friday and run through Jan. 8, 2021.
“I told myself I wouldn’t leave my bubble,” said Mrs. Claus, who stopped decorating Santa’s House to show keiki where to drop letters to Santa.
“The holidays look different this year,” McFerrin-Warrack said. “There are various adaptations to address the COVID-19 safety and health guidelines underway, including Macy’s offering order online, curbside-pickup service, and also offer sales that rotate every week this month in the store. Deja Vu Surf Hawaii has been hosting Black Friday sales since the first week of the month, and has recently started a website for ordering certain items online for pickup at the store.”
Kay Jewelers has switched to an appointment-based system so the staff can clean between customers.
Above all, KGC asks that face masks be worn — both indoors, or outdoors — and social distancing be observed.
Why bother, the place is practically M. Ti