By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The busy Christmas shopping season is in full swing this year at Big Creek Crossing, but with a few twists due to COVID-19.
Hays city ordinance means shoppers are required to wear masks inside the mall and Santa is meeting with children behind a plexiglass shield.
Santa will also be wearing a mask or face shield. Photos with Santa will still be available, but the children will not be able to sit on Santa's lap. They will sit on a bench next to Santa.
"It is a different experience, but we are still glad to have Santa here. It is still something to keep people in that holiday spirit," Branson Hoffman, Big Creek Crossing marketing director, said.
The shopping center has a pet night with Santa scheduled for Wednesday.
See Big Creek Crossing's Facebook page for Santa's complete schedule.
Although several of Big Creek's holiday events had to be canceled this year, including its annual wine tasting event and Fort Hays State University basketball team autograph signing event. Big Creek Crossing's annual Holiday Craft Fair is still scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19.
Hoffman said he still has slots available for vendors, but he is filling up fast. The mall limited the number of vendors this year to allow for more social distancing. A vendor application form can be found on the mall's Facebook page.
Seasonal businesses
Big Creek Crossing has back some of its usual seasonal businesses. The Nut Place with its cinnamon nuts and fudge is back in center court.
Go! Calendar & Games also has its usual seasonal kiosk in the north wing.
Western Sunset Creations by Roxane Dorzweiler is also back again this year and is occupying the former Payless Shoe space. She is selling homemade bierocks and sausage as well as other gift items. Western Sunset is open during the weekends.
If you don't have a tree yet, Ponderosa Tree Farm & Nursery from Ogallah is selling Christmas trees and wreaths in the Big Creek Crossing parking lot.
The trees were fresh cut on Nov. 19 in Minnesota. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
When you buy any wreath from Ponderosa a portion of the proceeds will help fund the Hays Special Olympics.
A mattress liquidation store opened Nov. 20 in the former Hallmark space. The business is temporary.
Businesses bouncing back from shutdown
The pandemic has hit mall businesses hard as it has many retail stores.
"We have obviously seen a decline in foot traffic," Hoffman said, "but we have seen some pretty positive, I would say impressive, sales numbers from a lot of our stores. ...
"A lot of these are exceeding predictions without COVID even in the picture."
The stores took a hit when they were forced to close during the shutdown this spring, he said.
"When things opened back up there was a pretty big spike in sales for a lot of these stores," Hoffman said. "They are actually pretty pleased with what they are seeing, and we are actually pretty surprised about what we came across."
Harbor Freight and Dollar Tree were deemed essential businesses and have been open throughout the pandemic.
"They have been performing very well," Hoffman said. "We are excited to have those two at the very end over there. I think they are [two] of the best additions we've made in a long time."
The mall also changed its hours this year. It is now open 10 a.m. to 8 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
New tenant
Intensity Elite Cheer/Dance/Gymnastics has rented the former RU21 space at Big Creek Crossing. The groups had been looking for a space in the area for some time, Hoffman said.
The group has signed a year lease.
Some remodeling was required, but the group has already started using the space.
Looking toward 2021
Big Creek Crossing is looking for a company to rent its large space on the north end of the mall where Gordman's was located.
Gordman's parent company, Stage, declared bankruptcy earlier this year.
Hoffman said the mall's leasing company has some promising prospects to fill that space, but nothing has been announced officially.