Shoppers cross the border for Black Friday deals in Calexico
Adrik Vargas
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA) – Black Friday brought plenty of excitement to the Gran Plaza Outlets in Calexico, where shoppers from Mexicali crossed the border looking to stretch their holiday budgets.
The outlets sit just steps from the port of entry, making them an easy stop for many families hoping to score deals without driving farther into the Imperial Valley.
“We’re by the border, it’s the closest place to go shopping. The rest is in El Centro, so the Gran Plaza Outlets are the most accessible for us from Mexicali who cross the border every day,” said Ander Rodriguez, a shopper.
Shoppers told us they came to see what discounts they could find this year, with some saying the sales were already paying off.
“I wanted to see what offers I’d find, if it was like before when there were a bunch of discounts…and I’ve found a couple things,” said Edna Robles, another shopper who said she’s already picking up gifts. “I’m already getting some gifts for Christmas, even for myself, and I’ve just taken advantage of the deals because there’s been some all week, and just looking to see what I can find for my mom and for my dad.”
Others said they’ve been planning for Black Friday well ahead of time.
“Yes, I try to always stay prepared months in advance, but we’ll see if I can find something because not all the stores have good deals,” said Martha Castañeda, another shopper.
Many shoppers said that as long as the outlets keep offering deals, they’ll keep crossing the border to look for them.