Christmas decorations are going up in Bridgeport, Light Up Night is set and the City of Bridgeport’s Christmas Parade has been scheduled. And now there’s one more thing that has signified the start of the holiday season.

 

The Meadowbrook Mall has announced its lineup of holiday-based businesses, including one company that has signed a lease that will go all the way through 2016 as opposed to closing shop once Christmas is complete.

 

“We probably could have even more stores for the holidays, but we’ve filled up all the space available for the holiday that we can lease,” said Meadowbrook Mall Property Manager Marcello Lalama. “Outside of a few spaces in the food court area, we’re 100 percent full right now.”

 

So what’s part of the holiday lineup? There are 11 stores that are part of the group including Turkish Delights, which Lalama said sells purses and other similar products. They are the store with the lease running through 2016.

 

The remainders include:

·         CP Gifts, a familiar holiday store that will be located in one of the few vacant storefronts this year as opposed to a cart location in the walking area.

·         Bling Bling T-Shirts, which sell t-shirts that light up.

·         T-Shirt Corner, also situated in a store front, which sells printed t-shirts.

·         Pillows and Massagers, that sells their namesake.

·         Hickory Farms, one of the longest holiday arrivals at the mall.

·         Go Calendar and Go Games, which is also an annual holiday arrival. This year, the store is situated in the former Toys ‘R Us location.

·         Glass Gallery, a cart located outside of Buckle specializing in glass figurines.

·         RC Toys, which sells items that its name indicates.

·         Personalized Ornaments, featuring Christmas ornaments and other holiday items.

·         Second Glance, which sells jewelry, knives and an assortment of items.

 

“I think those that come to the mall during the holiday season will be able to not only enjoy our holiday tenants, but enjoy our long-term tenants and the improvements the mall has done during the last three years,” said Lalama. “You can have an enjoyable experience to shop for whatever product you want, you can relax in multiple seating areas including more than one where you can watch television and there are many places to get a bite to eat. We try and create an entire start to finish positive experience for those that want to spend a lot of time at the mall.”

 

Lalama said most of the stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day beginning at 6 p.m. They will be open all evening and straight through 10 p.m. Friday night. He once again anticipates substantial crowds, which have become the norm in the 30-plus years of the Bridgeport retail hub.

 

Editor's Note: Two of the holiday tenants are pictured above.