Best Friday-After-Thanksgiving Sales in Swansea, Massachusetts

I admit it. I am one of those people, the ones who love to be out in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season on what is best known in the shopping world as Black Friday. The biggest shopping day of the year, the day after Thanksgiving, I love it, my husband and kids, not so much. But I've found a way around it. That's right a way that lets me shop while avoiding the jam packed mall and aggravation of fighting the crowd to find the men sitting on a bench in the middle looking utterly bored and obstinate. I avoid the out right sales and go for the quality and crafty products in the lost stores. By lost stores I don't mean they are hard to find. On the contrary they are all on or right off of Route 6, many are in the plazas surrounding the omnipotent mall.

They are more or less lost in the shuffle of everyone getting to the mall to grab up the bargains of the century, at least for this year. I take a good look at my list and then consider the products available in the lost stores and see who I can make feel special with a special, quality, not necessarily bargain priced, gift. Ironically enough these stores tend to hold interest for my husband and sons too. I know, color me crazy, two kids in a glass shop, but they are enthralled with the workmanship that goes into the pieces. A craft store filled with yarn you say? Yes, its amazing how tactile children are, they feel them all and consider if they would like something made out of it. Books to thumb through, special gifts for grandparents, plants they've never seen before, candy to taste, and papers and art supplies to choose for their own special cards. Life is good and so is the shopping on Black Friday if you don't fall into the mass marketing trap. Mind you that's not to say these stores will not have specials of their own on that day of days but chances are they will not be advertisied in a specail double wide edition of the local paper on Thursday.

Bargain Books. 207 Swansea Mall Drive (508) 676-5686
Hours are subject to change o you will need to call first but it is well worth the trip.
You can find all kinds of books here for a fraction of the cost you would pay at a chain store. Romance, mystery, children's, and hobby are filled with classics and even releases only a few weeks old.

Tickles 2219 GAR Highway (508) 379-0717
Hours: 10:00am-8:00PM on Black Friday
A gem on the main drag, this store is often over looked in the rush to the mall. Not only does it have hundreds of wonder gift ideas and quality lines like Vera Bradley Bags, Byers Choice carolers, Karibou Sterling Silver, Claire V. Handbags, Christopher Radko Ornaments, Beacon Street Girls, but the most delicious lunch available in town. The Tea Room menu is small but like everything else in the building, quality. A personal favorite is the lobster salad roll with the pasta salad side but everything is good. The Desserts are to die for and there is even a candy counter where you can purchase a delectable delights by the piece to make the experience last after you leave.

Scrap Happy 132 Slades Ferry Ave Somerset (508) 673-4600 http://scraphappysomerset.com
Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00am-6:00pm, Friday 10:00am-7:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-5:00PM, Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm
A neat store filled with neat items for your scrap booking and paper crafting needs. Brands such as Bazzil, Basic Grey, Kaleidoscope, Quik Kutz , and Creative Images are displayed in a color coordinated spectacular to make any crafter swoon. Always friendly and helpful staff and a focus on quality products rather than a gluttonous assortment of lack luster less expensive items make this an enjoyable shopping excursion not possible at the large chains.

Bloomin' Barn 279 Gardners Neck Rd (508) 678-4448 http://www.bloominbarn.com
Open 7 days a week from 10:00am - 5:00pm
A two-story barn (circa 1850) filled with over 2000 square fee of country primitive, gifts, furnishings and Accessories. Garden Center is open for all seasonal holidays.

Island Candy & Crafts2 reviews103 Swansea Mall Drive (508) 674-6633 http://island-candy.com
Monday 12:00pm-6:00pm, Wednesday 12:00pm-6:00pm, Thursday 12:00pm-6:00pm, Friday 12:00pm-6:00pm, Saturday 12:00pm-4:00pm
Chocolate by the piece or the pound including a wide selection of sugar-free chocolates, nuts and Jelly Belly jelly beans too.
Going to the movie theater stop in her first to save money and still satisfy your sweet tooth. Custom gifts or party favors in chocolate are always appreciated. They even have their own super delicious version of a rather famous candy covered fruit that weighs in at a few pounds each. Molds and sticks and all the things you need to create your own exciting confections at home as gifts are available here too.

Center For The Soul Holistic Medicine 95 Swansea Mall Drive (508) 672-7298 http://centerforthesoul.com
Tuesday 12:0 pm - 5:00pm Wednesday thru Friday 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Saturday 11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Center for the Soul has everything you need to begin healing from within. They offer a wide variety of high quality gifts that have a healing touch. A large selection of gorgeous crystal and gemstone jewelry, relaxing music, a variety of incense aromatherapy and Affirmation candles, books, calendars, and tarot cards are to be had. Alternative/Holistic Healing New Age/ Metaphysical Spiritual

Dollar Tree 58 Swansea Mall Drive (508) 673-1756
Hours Monday thru Saturday 9:00am - 9:00pm Sunday 9:00am - 6:00pm
Say what you will but there are literally thousands of bargains to be had in a dollar store and this one is no exception. Find quality scrap booking and paper crafting items, arts and crafts accoutrement of all kinds, and wrapping and packaging you would generally pay five times as much for.

Stained Glass Emporium 69 Fall River Avenue Rehoboth (508) 336-5455 http://stainedglassemporium.net/SGE
Hours: Monday & Tuesday 9:00am-9:00pm Wednesday thru Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Saturday 9:00am-3:00pm
Also on the main through way of Route 6 the studio offers Stained Glass Classes and Workshops by professional glass artists and features the area's largest selection of stained glass and supplies. Give the creative person on your list a gift certificate to a class to expand their creativity. You can also purchase already created pieces for the art love on your gift list.

K G Krafts 260 New Boston Rd Fall River, MA 02720 (508) 676-3336
Hours: Monday thru Thursday 9:00am-9:00pm Friday and Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
Nestled in the quiet neighborhood surrounding Charlton memorial you will find KG Krafts, a gold mine for crafters of every persuasion. A massive array of yarns and patterns, ceramics and embellishments, papers and stencils…If you can craft it you can find it here. The ultra friendly staff is not only helpful in locating what you want in a full to the brim storefront but they are eager to share ideas, tips, and patterns.

Riverside Art Ltd 1600 Grand Army Hwy Somerset, MA 02726 (508) 672-6735 http://www.riversideart.com
Hours Monday thru Friday: 9:30am-6:00pm, Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
Riverside Art provides the products and services necessary to explore, discover and create artwork in such diverse media as oil, watercolor, acrylics, pastels, airbrushing, calligraphy, to name a few. Trained staff can answer specific questions about material and techniques. The Marriette Gallery, a high quality archival framer with an ever-changing selection of wonderfully framed prints, posters, and collectables has made a lasting impression and impeccable reputation for the home town artist haven. Along side the artwork we carry an increasing array of fine gifts from handmade jewelry to hand blown glass.