The holiday shopping season is here and Austin’s stores are gearing up for the onslaught that traditionally kicks off Friday – and for a couple stores today.

Monday, November 20, 2000

The holiday shopping season is here and Austin’s stores are gearing up for the onslaught that traditionally kicks off Friday – and for a couple stores today.

From today until Christmas, shopping begins in earnest. Some retailers say the shopping already has begun, according to Sam Ewing, a manager at Main Street, the newest store located in the Sterling Shopping Center.

The store opened its doors this month and, according to Ewing, "has been real busy ever since.

The new store has added 20 more staff and plans to add at least 10 more for the holiday season. Ewing points out that like other stores, the hours will extend to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday and hours will increase near Christmas.

Main Street is, according to Ewing, "the biggest gift shop in Minnesota" and includes an expanded grocery store, Simek’s Frozen Foods and a play area for the kids.

It also offers a post office and free gift wrapping and there will be free pictures for kids with Santa.

Kmart is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and store manager Dan Hewitt says the hottest item is the new Sony Playstation II for $299, but they have a limited supply.

Kmart has hired several more people to get through the holiday season and it "builds momentum." Hewitt says that at the rate decorations are selling this will be the biggest year ever in that department.

The store hours will be will be 6 a.m. to midnight Friday and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and then 7 a.m. to midnight until Dec. 15, when the store will be open 24 hours a day until the day before Christmas.

Target’s holiday hours will be from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week, beginning tomorrow. However, Target is closed today for Thanksgiving.

Target also is bulking up for the holidays by hiring temporary help and they are looking forward to an exciting time with special holiday decorations in place in the form of mobiles suspended from the ceiling that one store manager describes as "looking great."

Wendy Whalen talked excitedly about Younkers’ annual "Cracker Jack Sale" that offers each customer a box of Cracker Jacks when they come in. In the box is a coupon for a certain percentage off and one of them holds a grand prize. Whalen said last year that was a diamond bracelet.

Younkers hours will increase from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Christmas.

The OakPark Mall store also has hired several seasonal associates and human resources is still hiring and they are not telling what the big Cracker Jack prize is this year.

At the other end of the mall, ShopKo also will be open today for holiday shoppers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. to midnight Friday. And on Friday, for the first five hours the store is open or the first 1,000 customers, shoppers will receive free a "Jingle Buddie." There also will be special pricing on items during this time.

Then from Saturday to Dec. 15 or so, store hours will be from 8 a.m. to midnight. After the 15th, ShopKo will be serving customers 24 hours a day.

There will be a senior citizens event with drawings for prizes and a 10 percent discount Nov. 28 from open to close with refreshments in the morning.

Dan Fisher says that the popular scooters will be on sale for $50.

Another popular item will be the new fiberoptic Christmas trees.

Teckno Dog, the interactive dog that is almost like real, also will be a hot item this season, according to Fisher.