For Immediate Release Media Contact: Pam Jones or Marjorie Beenders
Nov. 19, 2009 Phone: 573-636-8282 « Email: pam@tbwgroup.net
Shoppers Find the Perfect Holiday Presents
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. – The holiday season is the perfect time for a shopping getaway to Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks. Whether you’re interested in outlet, antique, big-box or specialty shopping (or all of the above), you’ll find what you’re looking for at the Lake.
It’s no surprise that the Lake of the Ozarks attracts holiday shoppers now through December. It’s the time of year to take advantage of smaller crowds and special savings. In fact, you’ll find great off-season rates at many Lake-area resorts, hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, vacation homes and condos and campgrounds; several lodging properties even offer money-saving shop-and-stay packages.
A top shopping destination at the Lake of the Ozarks is the 110-store Osage Beach Premium Outlets on Highway 54. It’s Missouri’s largest outlet center with 110 stores, including Polo Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, BCBG Max Azria, Coach, Gap Outlet, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas, Gymboree Outlet, J.Crew, Liz Claiborne New York and more,offering savings of 25-65 percent every day. The center will be dressed up for the season with huge wreaths and lights galore. “The park-like setting with plenty of benches plus the beautiful holiday décor will make shopping a pleasurable experience,” says General Manager Candy Wilson.
To make the season extra bright, Osage Beach Premium Outlets will offer its annual After-Thanksgiving Sale featuring Midnight Madness (November 27 - 29), when the center kicks off three-days of savings at midnight as Thanksgiving ends. Some stores are opening as early as 9pm on Thursday night. “The deals we have planned this year are truly incredible,” Wilson says. Santa will arrive at 5 p.m., Nov. 20, and strolling carolers presented by Coca-Cola will add to the festivities, 11 p.m. Nov. 16, to 1 a.m. Nov. 27, and 3-6 p.m., Nov. 28. The center also will offer extended hours on Dec. 26-27 for those after-Christmas bargain-hunters
Several Lake-area lodging properties partner with Osage Beach Premium Outlets to offer value-packed Shop & Stay packages—many including a VIP Coupon Book as well as outlet center gift cards for $25, $50 or $100. For a complete list of lodging partners and more information visit www.premiumoutlets.com.
At Stone Crest Mall on Highway 54, the lavish decorations are up and the mall’s 35-plus tenants—including retailers of ladies’ apparel, shoes, toys, gifts, books, cigars and much more--are offering holiday specials. The day after Thanksgiving, several stores will open at 7 a.m. to kick off “Celebrate the Magic of Christmas,” through Nov. 29. The annual festivities will include mall-wide sales and promotions, cookies, prizes and surprises. Santa will arrive Saturday, Nov. 28 at 12 noon and return every Saturday, 12-4 p.m.
“This year Santa will have his own beautifully decorated glass enclosure,” says General Manager Robin Evers. “For a small fee, kids can have a professional photo taken with Santa, or you certainly can bring your own camera.” Evers adds entire families frequently have a photo taken with Santa. “It’s a great opportunity for a family reunion,” she says. And it’s not only humans who will tell Santa if they’ve been good. On Dec. 5, the mall’s annual Pet Photo Day will take place, attracting puppies and kittens, dogs and cats dressed in their holiday finery. “We’ve also had hamsters, fish in bowls, a snake, monkey and pony,” Evers says. “Santa was a good sport about the snake.”
If the season starts to get a little stressful, visitors are urged to drop by Stone Crest Mall on 1-5 p.m., Dec. 12, for the second annual Holiday Therapy Day, sponsored by the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce. Indulge in sweets and treats, spirit tasting's including beer, wine and saki (small admission charge), as well as soothing chair massages. “Shoppers also will love to visit all the vendors of holiday and gift items that will line the corridors,” says Michelle Cook, marketing director at the Lake Area Chamber. “Bring your friends and enjoy a relaxing few hours.” For more information please visit www.shopstonecrestmall.com.
Another popular Lake-area shopping center is the Victorian-themed The Landing on Main Street, also on Highway 54. Among its 20-plus shops and services is Blair’s Landing, offering fine apparel and shoes for men and women, framing and home accessories, a Brighton store, resort wear, pet boutique, flowers, baked treats, art and antiques and more. Also in The Landing are a tea room and Blair & Co. Confectionery, selling Ozark Maid Candies (a visitor favorite for more than 50 years).
The Landing will hold its center-wide sale Nov. 27 through the holidays. Its New Year’s Day Sale is a favorite Lake-area tradition. “You’ll find some outstanding values for holiday gift-giving,” says Judy Blair of Blair’s Landing. She notes holiday shoppers include groups of ladies enjoying girlfriend getaways. “Many of them have special t-shirts made up,” Blair says. “Just recently I saw a group wearing hot pink shirts that said Friends Don’t Let Friends Shop Alone.”
Holiday shoppers at The Landing also will enjoy the famed Christmas show at the Main Street Music Hall, located at the rear of the shopping center, Nov. 20-21, Dec. 1-5, 8-12 and 15-19.
Of course no holiday shopping trip to the Lake of the Ozarks is complete without a stop at Historic Bagnell Dam Boulevard, also known as “the Strip,” Business Highway 54 in Lake Ozark. This fun and fascinating mile offers flea markets, restaurants, candle shops, snack bars, T-shirt and swimwear shops, Indian jewelry stores, arcades, psychics, batting cages, a merry-go-round, haunted hotel – plus several upscale gift shops and boutiques (one just for pooches). About 25 business will be open through the holidays on the Strip.
The Strip is the home of the famed Dogpatch Store, founded in 1947, a 10,000-sq.-ft. shop with gifts, novelties, Lake of the Ozarks souvenirs, home décor and a friendly atmosphere. The nostalgic flavor starts with Ol’ Grandpa, a mannequin with an attitude stationed at the front door. “Ol’ Grandpa will have a holiday message for visitors,” says owner Mike Page. “Of course you never know what he’ll come up with.” Inside, shoppers will find “all kinds of gifts you can’t find anywhere else, like old-fashioned toys and candy,” Page says.
Nov. 21 will be a busy day at Dogpatch and throughout the Strip as Santa Claus’s caravan lights up the area, winding up below Bagnell Dam for a giant bonfire. At 1: 00 p.m. on Dec. 12, the 25th annual Lake Area Christmas Parade will journey along the Strip. Following the parade, the 1931 Troupe, a group of actors who recreate the year Bagnell Dam opened, will perform and sing Christmas Carols.
Page also owns the Leatherman Shop and Grandma’s Candy Kitchen. “Grandma will have plenty of peppermint bark, as well as pumpkin and eggnog fudge in honor of the holidays,” Page says. “It’s a great time to do your holiday shopping along the Strip. It’s not crowded and you can find great value and variety.”
At the Lake of the Ozarks, shoppers also will find several antique malls and shops. Major retailers include Target, Marshall’s, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and others. At the Lake you’ll also find European and Mexican imports, silk trees and plants, hardware and housewares, pottery, cards and stationery, specialty foods, wine and liquor, outdoors and sports equipment, books, candles, flags, boats, motorcycles and more. The larger resorts all have inviting gift shops, and crafts and fine art frequently are for sale at the Lake area’s numerous festivals and fairs.
For holiday or anytime shopping, you’ll find what you’re looking for – or what you didn’t know you needed – at the Lake. For more information on Lake-area shopping, lodging, dining, events and attractions, contact the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253), or visit www.funlake.com.
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