Aaron Showalter/New York Daily News
Courtney Bridges (left to right), Larissa Hanley, Jessica Lane and Emma Mill, all visiting the city from Australia, treated themselves to gifts at Victoria's Secret. Shoppers flooded stores around Herald Square Saturday in a final rush before Christmas.
The Queens Center Mall needed extra cops to quell a sneaker-crazy Christmas crowd — and that’s no Bull.
The latest Michael Jordan sneakers, the Retro XI, drew a Madison Square Garden-sized throng of shoppers desperate for that perfect last-minute gift.
“It was mayhem,” said Jesse Vargas, 31, who was caught in the Saturday morning sneaker scrum.
“There were people that camped out from 8 p.m. last night, and they were fighting with people that tried to cut the line.”
RELATED: BLACK MARKET FLOODED WITH 40 MILLION CREDIT CARD NUMBERS STOLEN FROM TARGET[1]
Those that arrived late missed out on the $170 shoes endorsed by the Chicago Bulls great.
The doors opened at 7 a.m., and all the kicks were gone in less than two hours.
“People go crazy for these sneakers,” said mall employee Alana Sanchez. “It was one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever seen. They sold out pretty quickly.”
Cops said there were no arrests or injuries during the mayhem.
RELATED: TARGET CUSTOMERS AT RISK AFTER CREDIT CARD SECURITY BREACH[2]
Aaron Showalter/New York Daily News
Shoppers flooded stores such as Macy's around Herald Square Saturday as stores held sales over the final weekend before Christmas.
The tick-tick-ticking of the Christmas countdown clock sent plenty of other shoppers scurrying from store to store just three days before Christmas morning.
Macy’s flagship Herald Square location, offering a huge one-day sale, was packed with bargain-hunters.
Despite the crowds and the unseasonably warm temperatures, shopper Nelson DeLeon said he wasn’t feeling the holiday heat.
“Most of the time I wait until the last minute,” said DeLeon, 28, a dog handler from the Bronx. “I work so much it’s hard to find the time. But I will get it all done today.”
He was considering some perfume or a purse for his wife, and needed to pick up some gifts for the kids.
“And I might get a little something for myself,” he confided. “I’m not sure yet.”
Elizabeth Maresco, at Macy’s with her sister and mother, said their late date for shopping was a family Christmas tradition.
“We do this every year,” said Maresco, 40, of White Plains, as she waited outside the story with her sibling and their mom Joan, 76.
RELATED: ECONOMY GETS EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT : RETAIL SALES RISE MORE THAN EXPECTED IN NOVEMBER[3]
Aaron Showalter/New York Daily News
Taylor Wopat (in red) and Liza Day Penney (in gray) of Chattanooga, Tenn., snap selfies at Macy's Saturday.
“It’s not about the shopping. It’s more about spending the day together.”
Joan, who used to work for Macy’s, hit the ground running.
“I'm a shopper. I was earmarking what I want in the catalog before I came down.
“I did buy something for my other daughter, but I can't say what it is. It's a surprise."
RELATED: FAKE FUR AND VEGAN LEATHER ARE A REAL TREND[4]
Lisa Cast, 31, of Queens, was searching on the first floor for a very specific present for her mother.
“It has to be leather,” she said. “And it has to be a designer bag, because she would never splurge on one for herself.”
Cast said there was an economic method to her pre-Christmas shopping madness.
“Sometimes it’s better to wait until the last minute because the prices are better,” she said. “You just have to have the time and patience.”
With Barry Paddock
References
- ^ RELATED: BLACK MARKET FLOODED WITH 40 MILLION CREDIT CARD NUMBERS STOLEN FROM TARGET (www.nydailynews.com)
- ^ RELATED: TARGET CUSTOMERS AT RISK AFTER CREDIT CARD SECURITY BREACH (www.nydailynews.com)
- ^ RELATED: ECONOMY GETS EARLY CHRISTMAS GIFT : RETAIL SALES RISE MORE THAN EXPECTED IN NOVEMBER (www.nydailynews.com)
- ^ RELATED: FAKE FUR AND VEGAN LEATHER ARE A REAL TREND (www.nydailynews.com)
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