Most malls reopened Thursday or earlier. Palmer Park Mall was still closed but said it would provide an update today.
The Lehigh Valley Mall was among several shopping centers to benefit this week from out-of-power residents looking for food or simply a place to charge to their cell phones.
The Phillipsburg and South malls and Promenade Shops at Sacuon Valley all reopened Thursday after several days being closed. Each said power returned Wednesday.
The Palmer Park Mall remained closed Thursday, according to its website, which said it would update today.
The Lehigh Valley Mall, which never lost power, reopened Tuesday. Southmont Shopping Center stores were open Tuesday as well.
Business officials said volume was surprisingly good Thursday, attributing the upsurge to storm-weary residents looking for food, comfort and access to electricity.
“Many shoppers were just happy to get a cup of coffee in a warm place,” said Melissa DiLazaro, assistant manager at Promenade Shops. “A lot of phone calls we’re getting are for Barnes & Noble. People want to get their hands on a book or get busy shopping.”
Officials said property damage was minimal at the commercial centers, though estimates on lost business were not available.
“Obviously money was lost, but fortunately no one was hurt,” said Brian Molchany, manager of South Mall in Allentown. “We got through the storm and hopefully we’ll make back what we lost in the next few weeks.”
Results in downtowns were more mixed as varying sections of Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey remained powerless.
Kasara McLaughlin, assistant manager for the Downtown Bethlehem Association, said First Friday activities scheduled today on South Side will be rescheduled Nov. 9 because that part of the city was still out of power Thursday.
“We’re going to make Nov. 9 really special for the merchants because we realize they lost a week of business,” said McLaughlin, adding that Main and Broad streets returned to normal quickly after the storm.
In New Jersey, Jim Sheldon, executive director of the Hackettstown Business Improvement District, estimated about one-third of businesses were still out of power, mostly near Mountain Avenue.
Sandi Cerami, executive director of the Washington Business Improvement District, described the downtown scene as “bustling” Thursday.
Easton was mostly spared from power disruptions while most of downtown Phillipsburg returned to power Wednesday and Thursday.
“I think the mood is we were very lucky,” Phillipsburg Mayor Harry Wyant said. “It could have been a lot worse and a lot longer.”
Towne Market owner Sal Cassar said he kept his South Main Street shop open with the help of a generator until normal power resumed Wednesday. Still, he estimated discarding about $3,000 worth of perishables.