Black Friday (which is the day after Thanksgiving, and falls on November 23rd this year) is a retail tradition that’s caught on all over the world over the past few years. But nowhere does Black Friday quite as well as its country of origin, the US, where the savings you can make during this flash super-sale are truly staggering.
And of course, nowhere in the US does Black Friday quite as well as its shopping capital: New York City. This is the shopping destination that dreams are made of, home to some of the most glamorous and gorgeous department stores and high-end boutiques on the planet.
This Black Friday, pick up a ticket for one of our New York City Hop-On, Hop-Off bus tours to get between all the must-visits with ease. Here are some of the places you’ve just got to check out. Bonus: most of these have show-stopping holiday window displays that tend to be up by Black Friday, too.
Macy’s
Homewares, clothing, jewelry: Macy’s has it all, but you’ll have to be prepared to fight tooth and nail to get those big bargains. This is one of the most iconic shopping spots in New York City, and it comes with the crowds to match. Despite the stressful side to it, though, grappling with other shoppers over mouth-wateringly good Black Friday buys on the Macy’s shop floor is a quintessential New York City experience.
This year, the sale begins at 5 pm on Thanksgiving Day and runs right into the early hours, closing briefly then opening again at 6 am on Black Friday. Okay, so clothes shopping in the dead of night is a slightly surreal experience – but it sure is a lot of fun.
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman is one of New York City’s most elegant places to shop, with a beautiful interior and elaborate window displays that draw in locals and tourists alike. But all that opulence comes with a price tag, and it’s not one everyone can afford.
On Black Friday, however, all that changes, with as much as 40% off the high-end brands stocked by Bergdorf Goodman. That might just be enough to push that perfect pair of shoes you’ve seen online from being absolutely out of the question to be realistically attainable.
But if you’re serious about shopping, it goes without saying that you’ll need to get here as early as you can, even before the doors open on November 23. If you’re so committed you’re prepared to wait in line in that chilly fall air, your rewards will be copious.
JCPenney
There are some good deals to be had at JCPenney at any time of the year, as this is a store that prides itself on its ability to offer bargains on everything from kitchenware and furniture to toys, shoes, and clothing. But on Black Friday, the prices really drop through the floor. Come here with enough money in your pocket and you can more or less buy yourself an entirely new wardrobe for way less money than you might expect. You won’t find any famous designer brands, but you will find a whole lot of steals.
Get there well before 2 pm on Black Friday, when the action begins, for the lowest price; or come any time up until 10 pm if you’re a bit more casual about the sales.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks is up there with the most extravagant of New York City department stores, so as a general rule you’ll need to be prepared to spend big to get the most out of a shopping spree here. Obviously, on Black Friday you can spend significantly less; but a single jacket bought in the sale here is still likely to set you back the same price as multiple full outfits bought in JCPenney.
Gucci, Prada, Rag & Bone and Versace are just a few of the brands you can find gracing the clothing and beauty departments of this shopping Mecca. In homewares, too, you’ll find big-name brands as far as the eye can see.
Bloomingdale’s
Have you even been shopping in New York if you don’t have a Bloomingdale’s Big Brown Bag to show for it? We say no – this should be a mandatory stop on every Black Friday shopping route. Less pricey than Saks, but more than Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s Black Friday Sale features huge discounts on clothing and homewares alongside special deals that offer additional savings if you spend more.
You’ll need to be an early bird for this one; the fun tends to get underway around 7 am, and this year begins on November 22, before most other sales.
Black Friday isn’t far off now – see our full range of New York City tours and start making your bargain-hunting plans today.
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