Retailers hoping Memorial Day weekend sales will encourage shoppers

With Memorial Day weekend ahead, retailers and restaurants getting ready to open their dining rooms say the reopening couldn’t come at a better time.

Triangle Town Center reopens at 11 a.m. on Thursday with health and safety precautions in place, like spacing out of shoppers and frequent disinfecting. The play areas will also still be closed and the food court is open, but people can’t sit down to eat. They must take their food to go.

Department stores begin reopening. Check this list of hours before you go

While things still aren’t fully back to normal, many retailers are hopeful their usual Memorial Day sales will help generate interest in shopping again.

Economist Mike Walden said most people are still employed, and retailers are ready to get back to business.

"We’re beginning to see a little bit of the light at the end of the tunnel with some economic numbers," Walden said. "Certainly we won't be back to where we were but the bottom appears -- fingers crossed -- to maybe have been reached."

Walden said he thinks companies will have some great sales for Memorial Day shoppers. "Of course, Memorial Day is usually the kickoff to summer here in North Carolina, so there will be a lot of items there for summer, but I would expect many retailers are going to give people a good deal on prices."

Walden said, although about 20% have lost their jobs, 80% are still working.

"People have this three-day weekend, and I think spirits will be up if we get past the rain and the sun peeks through, so I’m hoping for a good experience and a good weekend for the retailers and restaurants and for the shoppers and patrons."

WRAL Smart Shopper has a list of everyday deals, including Memorial Day sales.