At 10 p.m. Thursday, shoppers still were moving in between racks of clothes and accessories at Macy’s in Roanoke, hunting for gifts and good bargains. But they didn’t have to worry about the store closing.
Macy’s is open until midnight through Dec. 23, even though Valley View Mall closes at 10 p.m. Two other department stores with local locations, Belk and J.C. Penney, also are pulling midnight hours through the weekend.

The extended hours are enticing people who have waited until the latest possible minute to finish their Christmas shopping. Some locally owned stores, such as Vida Bela on Grandin Road in Roanoke, plan to be open on Sundays and other non-typical business days. Vida Bela will open this Sunday and Monday from 1 to 4 p.m. to drum up business, said owner Debra Carey. She typically closes her shop on these days.

Check out my story in this Sunday’s Roanoke Times business section to learn more last minute shopping tips and how retailers are handling the final hours leading up to Dec. 25.

I won’t be blogging for the next few days, but I’ll be back here by the middle of next week.

Have a Merry Christmas!

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• Posted by Jenny Kincaid Boone in Winter Holidays
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