James City County and Williamsburg Premium Outlets are gearing up for a busy Black Friday weekend, with extended shopping hours at the shopping center, free shuttle service for guests and increased police presence to ensure safety.
Premium Outlets on Route 60 recently expanded, and now has 135 outlet stores that will be on extended hours starting Friday at midnight for the shops’ Midnight Madness sales event. Hours are from midnight to 10 p.m. Friday, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Due to higher demand, more than half the stores will open earlier this year – select stores will open at 9 p.m. Thursday, according to Donna Standish, general manager of Premium Outlets.
“Each year shoppers show up earlier and earlier,” Standish said. “This year more than half of our stores will be opening at 9 p.m. Thursday night to serve the shoppers who always come extra early and want to be the first to take advantage of the deals. The stores realize the importance of this shopping period and have truly stepped it up this year with some wonderful promotions and deals.
“This is not just about Black Friday – this is a three day extravaganza.”
As in previous years, Premium Outlets will hire off duty police officers for security and to help control traffic during the event. Officers will be working throughout the weekend starting at 8 p.m. on Thursday night, according to James City Police spokesman Major Steve Rubino.
Officers will be stationed both in the Outlets area and along Richmond Road between Centerville Road and Old Town Road, Rubino said. This will also include officers who will monitor the Chisel Run neighborhood as well as others neighborhoods along Old Town Road to keep shoppers from parking in these neighborhoods. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles has placed “No Parking” signs along parts of the highway.
“Shoppers should drive safely, plan to give themselves extra time to drive to destinations in or through the area, and expect some traffic congestion,” according to Rubino.
Rubino offered some safety tips for people who plan to come to Premium Outlets to shop. He suggested that shoppers “should park in well-lit areas and lock their vehicles. Valuables, to include newly purchased items and shopping bags, cell phones, and other electronic items should be stored away in the trunk when possible. Leaving items such as these visible in the vehicle can lead to theft.
“Shoppers, especially females, should travel in groups of two or more people and have their keys in their hands readily available as they approach their vehicles. They should be aware of their surroundings and other people in their area.”
Standish said she expects many guests over the holiday weekend. “Our shoppers have a long tradition of starting their Black Friday shopping at Williamsburg Premium Outlets,” she said. “This will be our 10th year hosting Midnight Madness.”
Free shuttle service will be available from 9 p.m. Thursday through 7:30 a.m. on Friday – this service used to be offered by Williamsburg James City County school system buses, but this year Premium Outlets has contracted with another bus service, according to James City County.
Look here for information on the bus service during Midnight Madness; look here for outlet holiday sales information.
