There s no way to predict, she said. Nationally, we re reading stories that sales will be great. Then we read other stories that indicate sales will be down. David Meadows, manager of Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg, said even though a small increase in sales is projected this holiday season, many new tenants and nifty amenities have been added. By December, food court tenants can expect the installation of Skytron, a national large screen mall network.
Restaurants benefit from a surge in sales, too.
Mike Cashion, executive director of the Mississippi Restaurant Association, said the holidays provide an opportunity to showcase the food service industry. As the day after Thanksgiving marks the official start of the Christmas shopping season, it marks the start of one of the busiest times of the year for restaurants, he said. As restaurants fill to capacity during the weekend, many will seek to increase traffic during the week by offering specials to weary shoppers. For those that are too pressed for time to sit down and enjoy a relaxed meal, most restaurants will eagerly provide meals to go.