Holiday shoppers brave snowy conditions at Great Northern Mall

NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio (WOIO) — The Christmas shopping season kicked into high gear following Thanksgiving, with determined shoppers willing to navigate wet, slushy roads to reach the mall.

A full parking at Great Northern Mall lot demonstrated that snow and cold temperatures did not deter holiday shopping plans.

Treacherous road conditions plague morning commute

John Bell was among many drivers who encountered difficult conditions on area roads.

“I thought it wasn’t going to be that bad when I first got on the road, I went ‘Oh my gosh,’” Bell said.

A drive on Highway 480 westbound Friday morning revealed more than 20 cars that had slid off the road within a single hour.

Slush and snow created hazardous conditions that sent vehicles into ditches.

Shoppers delay trips for safer travel

Many shoppers postponed their mall visits until the afternoon, allowing time for snow plows to clear the streets.

“My friend and my daughter called me early morning they wanted to come to the mall, I say no,” said Maria as she got ready to shop. “I said ‘We’ll go late.’”

Another shopper waited until midday to venture out.

“I did wait, until about noon, I got up pretty early, but I didn’t go out, I waited until about noon to see what’s going on if the trucks were out,” Bell said.

Despite the challenging conditions, shoppers remained committed to their holiday shopping plans.

“I was going out regardless,” one determined shopper said.

“I’m kind of a brave trooper, I’m going to do it anyhow because I knew I had to go out anyhow because I had to do some shopping,” Bell added.

One shopper noted that road conditions improved closer to the mall destination.

“Coming out, the roads were kind of messy about halfway getting here and then getting closer to Great Northern it was the wet.”