Nov. 21--Sick of the holidays yet? Well, at least you've got your shopping finished, right?
Ho-ho-ho.
Yes, it's time to head for the mall, where you will waste too much time and spend too much money for the joy of buying sock garters for Uncle Frank.
Anything that makes the chore of shopping easier is welcome. So here's a holiday gift to you: some ideas on how to best handle the challenge of parking at the mall. Some advice from the experts:
Timing is everything: Arrive "as soon as you can after the mall opens, that's best," says Roy Nielsen, the security traffic captain at the 14,000-spot Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. "(At Mall of America) it takes a while to fill up, so the earlier you get in the better chance of getting an up-front spot."
Lots get their busiest from around 1:30 to 2:15 p.m., he says, and there's a good outbound rush starting around 2:30.
Rob Schoeneck, general manager at the 11,000-plus-spot Destiny USA mall in Syracuse, N.Y., concurs. "Early or late in the day are the best times if you want to be close to the building," he says. "And earlier (in the week) -- Monday through Thursday instead of Friday, Saturday and Sunday."
Pay attention: Don't fiddle with the radio, don't check your email, keep chitchat to a minimum. Your job is to shop. And you can't do that until you park.
Location, location, location: In a perfect world, you arrive at the mall lot and find that the first spot in the aisle closest to the entrance of your destination store is available. We will call this the "Pope's Spot." But the Pope's Spot is never available. If he hasn't parked the Popemobile there, the mayor's mother-in-law has it sewn up. So you make do. You can circle the lot -- maybe a couple of times, maybe infinitely -- waiting for a close-up spot. "If you're dead set on trying to find a space next to the building itself, it may take a while," Schoeneck warns. "If that's your goal in life, you'll have to be patient."
At Destiny -- like many larger shopping centers -- there's a pedestrian walkway to an adjacent lot. "You walk 200, 300, 400 feet," Schoeneck says. "Save time and gas and it's a lot less aggravation." So put a little distance between the entrance and your car. Or park a good distance away and power walk to the mall so you can burn some calories and not feel guilty about making The Donutorium at the food court your first stop.
Technology is your friend: A lot of malls have smartphone apps you can check for parking updates. At the Mall of America, Nielsen came up with an app that his crew updates, using information he collects while buzzing around in a three-wheeled cart. The mall's website also has color-coded maps to direct drivers.
No left turns: While seeking a spot, make only right turns. Saves time, cuts down on congestion.
Reconsider stalking: While patrolling the aisles looking for that 20-by-9-foot piece of paradise, you may come across shoppers loaded down with bags and headed for their car. You can follow them to their spot, planning to snap it up as soon as it's vacated -- but they may be parked at the other end of creation, leaving you with a long hike. Or they may just be dropping off their first load before heading back into the mall for further battle. Besides, inching down the aisle five feet behind a tired and slow-moving shopper just seems creepy.
Last word(s): From Schoeneck: "I practice what I preach. I will park in the ... lots across the street because it's just a few seconds of walking to me. I'm not a very patient person sitting in traffic."
From Nielsen: "If I'm by myself I grab the first thing I can see because I know people rush to the front, even when they know it's full, hoping to catch someone backing out. I head for the first spot (I see) and walk."
bhageman@tribpub.com
Twitter @bhageman1
Degree of difficulty: Medium. Much depends on your ability to compromise.
