It’s safe to say that Black Friday shopping will presumably look a little bit different this year. The typical crowds and craziness inspired by the holiday—and often, even beginning on Thanksgiving Day—will be a bit more muted this year, as many retailers and small businesses opt for more COVID-friendly shopping alternatives. Regardless, Seattle residents can still anticipate a day full of fantastic sales and unique events. Here’s a guide for how to navigate Black Friday in Seattle:
While many of the region’s top shopping centers will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, they are expected to extend their typical hours of operation on Black Friday. The Shops at Burlington will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday this week, with some individual stores within the shopping center operating on their own hours. This mall features top brands like the Nike Clearance Store, Coach NY and Christopher & Banks.
The Seattle Premium Outlets have implemented “extra joyful hours,” with the outdoor shopping center offering extended operating hours on Black Friday, from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Top stores like Tory Burch, The North Face, Burberry and lululemon will offer extra holiday savings that can be enjoyed through in-person shopping, curbside pickup, or by appointment.
The Centralia Outlets—located halfway between Seattle and Portland—will be offering special, adjusted hours for “holiday shopping” the entire week of Thanksgiving, in an effort to avoid mass crowds. While the outlets will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, they will be open the day before Thanksgiving, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Black Friday, doors will open at 8 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m.—these special hours extend into Saturday, as well. The outlet shopping destination is also set to host a Holiday Farmers’ Market Friday through Sunday, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and will feature seasonal gifts from local retailers.
Outlet Collection Seattle will also be extending its operation hours on Black Friday—with stores opening at 6 a.m. and closing at 9 p.m. The outlet mall will also offer adjusted hours the day after Black Friday, now open from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. This location features brands like H&M, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, and Victoria’s Secret.
For a more unique experience, shoppers should visit Seattle’s own Public Market Center at Pike Place Market for exclusive deals on some of the city’s most beloved small businesses and brands. On both Black Friday and Cyber Monday, indi chocolate will include a free magnet mold in any purchase of the Virtual Make Chocolate at Home Masterclass. For this class, indi chocolate ships the supplies and ingredients to your home for making your own chocolate.
From Nov. 27 to Nov. 30, Moon Valley Organics will be offering 20 percent off on all orders of $50 or more. And the popular Pike Place Fish Market will be offering 15 percent off beginning Black Friday and continuing through Cyber Monday.
Outside of conventional shopping at some of the city’s top outdoor retailers and malls, there are a number of virtual markets and craft fairs that are expected to take place all across Seattle.
On Black Friday, from noon to 1:30 p.m. and 3 to 4:40 p.m., It’s Never 2 Early 2 Create & Innovate: A Black Youth Entrepreneurial Virtual Market Place, will be hosted. While Black Friday has traditionally been used as a mechanism of U.S. capitalism, this market is joining with other social and economic justice efforts to repurpose that day. The event will feature video entertainment from NW Tap Connection, Akilah Franklin, Louis Collins & John Jones, Sidney Thomas, Cipher Goings and more.
The annual Native Holiday Gift Fair in West Seattle is expected to continue as planned and will take place on Black Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This huge annual event offers fantastic and unique items from local Indigenous artists, makers, and sellers showcasing goods, including wood carvings, beadwork, drums, prints, paintings, and more.
Finally, the City of Seattle and community partners have come together to develop a new small business map that’s meant to help local retailers who are navigating a unique holiday shopping season. The “Shop Your Block” map—developed especially for this year—allows people to find local retailers across the city. The program helps users search for businesses by name, address, neighborhood, or product keywords. It features product specifics like whether a retailer is open for in-person shopping, the locations’ hours, and more.
Small businesses are crucial to Seattle’s economy–and after a particularly difficult year for so many small business owners, the hope of the initiative is that it will provide extra support during this year’s Black Friday shopping.