SYRACUSE -- It's considered a make or break weekend for retailers -- the final full weekend before Christmas.
As you can imagine, Carousel Center will be packed Saturday and Sunday with folks finishing, or maybe just starting, their holiday shopping. As it is every year, parking is at a premium -- but the mall is doing its part to help you navigate through the parking nightmare.
New this year -- valet parking.
It runs all weekend and Thursday and Friday of next week in front of the Destiny expansion off of Hiawatha Boulevard. It costs $5 -- all you have to do is drive up, and folks at the mall will take care of the rest. Officials at Carousel tell CNY Central this is actually a glimpse of the future. We're told valet parking will become permanent once the expansion is complete.
If valet parking isn't for you, there's the traditional parking outside Carousel Center -- including the auxiliary lots. However, shoppers we spoke with say being patient is key because spaces are limited. They also say you'll need to watch out for cars and people darting out in traffic.
If all else fails and you can't find a parking spot at Carousel Center, there's extra parking along Solar Street -- across from where the Hess gas station used to be. From there you can take advantage of a free shuttle service to and from your car.
Outside of trying to cure you parking headaches this year, officials at Carousel Center are giving you more time to get shopping done. Extended hours are in place this weekend. Sunday, the mall is open from 8am-10pm and Monday through Friday of next week, the mall is open from 8am-11pm. Christmas Eve, the mall is open from 7am-5pm.
Are you planning on going to Carousel Center to do any last minute Christmas shopping? What do you think about parking? What has the mall done right...and what can it do better?
