Eastdale Mall prepares for tax-free holiday

Eastdale Mall is teaming up with Capitol Chevrolet to give away three gift cards worth $500 each during the Back-to-School tax-free holiday that is scheduled for Aug. 7-9.

Beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 7, and ending at midnight on August 9, Alabama will hold its 10th annual sales tax holiday giving shoppers the chance to buy certain school supplies, computers, and clothing free of state sales or use taxes. Local sales and use taxes may apply, the State Department of Revenue says on its website at https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/SalesTaxHol.cfm.

Mall marketing director Suzanna Wasserman said the retail complex has almost everything parents will need to prepare students for classes.

“JCPenney has Disney-themed notebooks and pencils,” she said, adding that Belk and JCPenney both sell IZOD brand uniforms that meet all of the requirements of the Montgomery Public School System. They are now 40 to 50 percent off through the middle of August, she added.

And the weather inside is always a respite from what has been a stout Alabama summer. “It’s always a cool 74 degrees inside Eastdale Mall,” Wasserman said. Many of the retailers, including Hibbett Sporting Goods, Journeys, Finish Line and Foot Locker, all have backpacks and shoes that are appropriate for school uniforms, she said. And Best Buy Mobile and Sears both will have sales running on the purchase of personal computers and tablets, Wasserman said.

Shoppers can register to win the gift cards at customer service on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Drawings will be held at 6 p.m. each day.

Items that will be tax-free include; clothing, footwear, wallets, and bags that cost $100 or less, school supplies that cost $15 or less, and the first $750 of the cost of personal computers and related accessories, Wasserman said. For more information on tax-free items, visit https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/salestax/STHolidayQuickRefSheet15.pdf.

Wasserman said another advantage for the mall, besides the temperatures, are the potential lunch and dinner break sites available to weary shoppers. They include Subway, Charley’s Steakery and Chick-fil-A, among many others in the food court.

“You can also grab a quick snack at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels or Cinnabon. Also, don’t forget to stop at Bath & Body Works and pick up their new pocket-size hand sanitizers, a must-have for every backpack!” Wasserman said. “If you’re in need of tennis shoes, Kids Foot Locker just expanded into a massive new store, located by Belk men and children’s store.”

Wasserman said that Cellairis has a special in progress for 25 percent off all phone accessories, and newcomer Folcarelli’s Pizza has just opened in the food court.

For more information on Eastdale Mall, a fixture in east Montgomery for more than 35 years, visit www.eastdale-mall.com for upcoming events and promotions.