Desert Hills Premium Outlets prepares for Black Friday crowds

“The holiday crowd has already started, and I have a feeling it’s going to get even worse come Black Friday,” Skechers employee Chris Johnson said.

Shoppers will crowd Desert Hills Premium Outlets for the holiday deals beginning Thanksgiving night.

“It’s our third year where we’ve opened the center at 9:00 P.M. on Thursday, so we have over 50% of our stores opening at that time,” Desert Hills Premium Outlets assistant general manager Elizabeth Perkovich said.

With construction for 45 new stores and a parking structure taking away parking spots, crowds could pose a problem. Shoppers and employees talked to us about the lack of parking.

“I have a feeling you’re going to have to park like everywhere else,” Johnson said.

Parking does seem to be an issue for some shoppers, but management says they have a plan, and they know it’ll work.

“All the employees we have working here at the center, they will not be parking here. They will be parking over at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, where we have worked with them to have a shuttle system to bring them back and forth,” Perkovich said.

Hotel guests can ride the shuttle to the outlets, as well.

“We have many components that make this thing work,” Perkovich said.

Bottom line, Black Friday crowds are as sure a thing as a sunny desert day — and people say they love outlet shopping.

“The deals, there are so many options You can really find something somewhere.”