JACKSONVILLE, N.C. --  Black Friday is days away and many shoppers in Onslow County are wondering about the status of the Jacksonville Mall, which suffered heavy flood damage during Hurricane Florence.

  • The Jacksonville Mall Marketing Director Christine Paules says the store owners and managers are working hard to be back up and running for Black Friday
  • 36 stores, kiosks, restaurants  are reopening after Florence, out of the 60 that were there before 
  • Two big anchor stores, Belk and Barnes & Noble, that bring heavy traffic to the mall will open after Black Friday

It is just one place dealing with repairs in Onslow County according to Laurette Leagon, the president of the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce.

“It looks like about 267 businesses in Onslow County had damages from Hurricane Florence, out of that amount, 11 of them were completely destroyed and another 60 had heavy damage,” says Leagon.

The Jacksonville Mall Marketing Director Christine Paules says the store owners and managers are working hard to be back up and running for Black Friday. She says 36 stores, kiosks, and restaurants are reopening after Florence out of the 60 that were there before the storm. There’s even a Santa Claus display and new children’s play area near Sears.

Paules says five more businesses want to be open before the biggest shopping day of the year. “We have Crazy 8 is coming, PACSUN, and, we're hoping for Bath and Body, “ says Paules.

Two big anchor stores that bring heavy traffic to the mall will open after Black Friday according to Paules. “Belk just announced they will be opening in 2019, so they are getting back up and ready as soon as they can. Barnes and Noble, we still don't have an estimated date for them to open, but they are definitely shooting to get open for holiday as well.”

Bath and Body Works is scheduled to open after Black Friday, on December 1.

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