BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
There are thousands of parking spots at the mall. But let's face it, the ones close to the door are the best.
It's not about being lazy.
Shoppers trying to polish off a holiday shopping list in one or two trips may have to hike back to the car several times. Shop, unload packages, shop and unload packages again. The trips add up.
And on cold, wet days, tired shoppers don't want to slosh through the parking lot with bags any farther than they have to. As commuters Friday trade their daily commute to work for a traditional day-after-Thanksgiving trip to the mall, there's a different challenge ahead.
Finding a good parking spot.
Most of the year, mall-goers drive in, go up and down a couple of aisles and find a spot.
But it's a different world during the holidays.
Thanksgiving comes. The next morning cars flock to suburban malls.
Suddenly, early bird shoppers fill up those coveted close-to the-door spots.
People like me, who like to sleep in, are left creeping through the parking lot watching for the reverse lights on cars in those prized spots pulling out. Or they take a spot as far away from the door as possible. (I find this strategy actually works well when leaving.)
This parking madness doesn't let up until after Dec. 24. So, here are some tips for the quest for a closer parking spot:
Beechmont Mall- Nearly 3,500 parking spots. The area near the main, south entrance off Beechmont Avenue and the area outside of Friday's restaurant are the two spots that fill up the quickest. Check out the other sides.
Eastgate Mall - About 7,000 parking spaces. On the busiest days, the area adjacent to Showcase Cinemas between Sears and Kohl's Department Store is often the last area to fill up.
Bonus tip: Traffic is usually very heavy getting into the parking lot, but look for a new access road off Ohio 32, which should alleviate some traffic jams.
Florence Mall - About 5,300 parking spaces. Best chance of getting a close spot: The "A" lot visible from Interstate 75 between J.C. Penney and Sears.
Forest Fair Mall - More than 7,150 parking spots. The area between Elder-Beerman and Bigg's is usually the least crowded.
Kenwood - Just under 6,000 parking spaces. Head toward the back lot by Lazarus and across from the Jewish Hospital. They tend to fill up last.
Bonus tip: To avoid traffic jams at Interstate 71's Montgomery Road exit, take Galbraith Road or Kenwood Road to the mall; they're a little less crowded, and there are mall entrances off each one.
Northgate Mall - About 5,500 parking spots. The area around the food court entrance is usually the first area to get jammed. Spots that don't fill up right away: parking garage between Sears and Lazarus and the south side of the mall between Sears and J.C. Penney.
Bonus tip: To beat the traffic getting into the mall, avoid Colerain Avenue and use Springdale Road.
Tri-County Mall: More than 5,000 parking spots. Watch for police and security officers who direct traffic in the parking lots.
A few other tips to find a quick parking spot:
Shop on weeknights.
Get there early on Saturday mornings.
Be patient and willing to get exercise by walking farther than usual.
Take a Metro bus.
To avoid the whole hassle, I plan to get my shopping done in the next couple of days.
Tanya Albert's "Commuting" column appears each Monday in the Metro section. Contact her at 768-8389; Fax: 768-8340; mail at 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202 or by e-mail at tmalbert@enquirer.com
