Santa Monica may be void of big-box retailers, but it's not short on Black Friday deals.
Head downtown for sales at the department and chain stores along the Third Street Promenade and at Santa Monica Place. Most shops are opening early at 7 and 8 a.m. At the mall, all retailers will open by 9 a.m., some as early as 5 a.m.
The first 90 minutes at downtown garages are free, $1 the next hour and $3 per hour afterward. The daily maximum rate is $14. The most affordable parking is a $3 flat rate at the Civic Center at Fourth Street and Olympic Boulevard.
Here's incentive to wake up early for the retail madness: "Santa's Little Savers" will surprise shoppers by paying for their purchases, up to $100.
Now for the sales!
Fuel up with complimentary coffee and treats from 7 to 9 a.m. at White House Black Market, where you'll also get 25 percent off your entire purchase and a gift with purchase while supplies last.
Bloomingdales, among other deals, is offering 60 percent off diamond jewelry, and 425 thread count sheets are $39.99 (regularly $139-159). Deals are available from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. only. Nordstrom opens at 8 a.m. with markdowns throughout the store.
Buy one, get one free at Foreign Exchange, which opens at 8 a.m., and take up to 40 percent off athletic attire at Lorna Jane, opening at 8:30 a.m. All Saints opens at 8 a.m. and is offering 20 percent off select merchandise.
Free People opens at 6 a.m. Get an extra 25 percent off all of its redlined merchandise.
For a full list of downtown retailers' store hours, click here.
Area big-box retailers just beyond the Santa Monica city limits are gearing up to dazzle bargain hunters even earlier this year—starting on Thanksgiving Day.
Last week, Walmart announced that it would open its doors at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 22 and offer holiday doorbusters while supplies last. These include deals on TVs, iPads, an electric scooter for $79 and a steam mop for $39.
Not to be outdone, Target and Best Buy are also planning all-out holiday shopping assaults.
Target's deals begin at 9 p.m. According to an ad leaked online, the best deals will be for TVs, a Nook, a Nikon camera and an XBOX 360 Kinect bundle. Zip over to the newest Los Angeles location at the Westwood Village.
At Best Buy, doors open at midnight. Doorbusters include deals on TVs, phones and Samsung laptop bundles. The nearest location is at 11301 W. Pico Blvd.
Walmart will offer its biggest deals from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. The store will offer three items at low prices—an iPad, a TV and a Blu-ray player. If the store runs out, you can still buy them at discounted prices but you must register for them online by midnight and have them delivered to your local store.
According to TheBlackFriday.com, several other stores will also have doorbuster sales on Thursday night or at midnight on Friday, including Kohl's.
For the early morning traditionalists, some stores will open at 4 a.m. with special sales. If you want to keep up with all of the Black Friday deals, you can check your favorite retailers' Facebook pages.
Want to avoid the holiday shopping mega-crowds altogether? Look for Cyber Monday deals on Nov. 26 or visit your local mom-and-pop retailers on Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24.
TELL US: Do you participate in Black Friday, Small Business Saturday or Cyber Monday? If so, where do you find the best deals? Share in the comments below.
