HORDES of bargain-hunters flocked to malls across Bahrain yesterday hoping to snap up deals as retail hubs geared up for big sales without Covid-19 restrictions after almost two years.
Shops offered steep discounts on items ranging from electronics, dress material, footwear and home decor as part of the global Black Friday sale.
Indian expatriate Mary Thomas said she was surprised by the ‘unusual crowd’ at a mall at around 11.30am.
“All levels of car parking were full at City Centre Bahrain, including the open terrace area,” she told the GDN.
“We even saw people walking into the mall after parking their cars in the open grounds nearby. We realised it was the Black Friday sale only after reaching there,” the long-term resident said.
Black Friday follows Thanksgiving which traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in the US.
“It’s interesting to see the spirit of the season in its full spree, after a gap,” said Bahraini Noora Al Subaie. “The Black Friday sale concept is pretty new to Bahrain, yet an interesting development,” said the social media professional.
Indian Jenitta Joyson, who was all enthusiastic about the sales, couldn’t wait to go to Dana Mall with her friends late in the evening.
“The best part of the sale in these malls are the crazy deals and offers,” she said. “We know the rush for parking space, but we don’t want to miss this opportunity. We have plans to buy electronic items, shoes and accessories from LuLu as they have the Super Friday deals.”
Visitors to Seef Mall in Seef District also reported heavy rush, with many struggling to find parking spaces for their cars.
While retail sales have been continuing since last week, ahead of Thanksgiving on Thursday, many surprise deals were kept under wraps until yesterday. Among the items in high demand were smartphones and smart-watches, which were up for flash sales for an hour or two at night.
There were also a few residents who preferred to stay away from the crowd by opting for online shopping.
“I don’t think we need to go to these crowded malls when we have a good variety of options on almost all online platforms,” said Filipino Mary Llentada, who was happy to click and purchase her favourite items from the comfort of her home.
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