Summer is winding down, and signs of fall are fast approaching. Racks of school supplies and Reese’s chocolate peanut butter pumpkins have simultaneously popped up in store aisles, and I don’t know about you, but I am not quite ready for either one (although the pumpkins are pretty tasty). Whether you are excited about back-to-school shopping or want to squeeze as much out of summer as possible, we can all agree that taking advantage of these back-to-school-inspired events will make transitioning from time in the sun to time in the classroom so much better.
Although not exclusive to the mall, it is important to note that August 1 through 14 are the dates for this year’s Ohio Sales Tax Free Holiday. There will be no tax on most taxable items valued at $500 or less. Details can be found on both the Colony Square Mall website and Ohio.gov.
“The mall is extremely convenient for back-to-school shopping – park once and shop the mall,” said Jessica Brailer, Colony Square Mall General Manager. “Popular back-to-school stores are: Shoe Carnival, Dunham’s Sports, TJ Maxx, JCPenney, American Eagle, DejaVu, Finish Line, Claire’s, Five Below, and Casa Bella. Customers are able to compare store selection and pricing easily under one roof, and stores will have a lot of special sales and promotions going on. We also have seven choices for meals inside the mall now, and plenty of options to have fun and take a break, like the arcade, glo-putt and the movies. The mall has something for all age groups and interests, which is very appealing to families with children of varying ages.”
“A friendly reminder that the Muskingum County Library System is here on Thursdays and we have free food court Wi-Fi every day courtesy of them,” Brailer added.
During the first few days of the Ohio Sales Tax Free Holiday, a Back-to-School Craft and Vendor Show will be held throughout the common area at the mall August 1st through 3rd.
“Guests can expect to see crafty apparel, drinking tumblers, jewelry and hair accessories, different types of bags and key chains, beauty, wellness, and self-care items, toys, room decorations, collectibles, stationery, direct sales consultants, and more. It’s always fun to see the creativity. We are expecting about 30 different vendors to attend,” Brailer explained.
Additionally, on August 5th, Lace Up for Kids “A Back-To-School Extravaganza” is being held for families who pre-registered (the window for applications closed on July 10). Eastside Ministries partnered with Wendy’s, WHIZ, J.W. & M.H. Straker Charitable Foundation, and Colony Square Mall to ensure children in need have a pair of shoes, socks, underwear, and a new outfit for school. Free haircuts and a health fair will also be offered to registered children that day. Last year, 950 kids were able to benefit from the generosity of Eastside Ministries and the community that made donations.
A donation tree for school supplies has been set up near TJ Maxx to allow anyone who wishes to purchase some items mentioned on tags hanging from the tree to do so. Items are being collected through the end of August and may be dropped off at The 146, JCPenny, or directly to Eastside Community Ministries, 221 Stillwell Street, Zanesville, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (closed daily for lunch from noon until 1 p.m.) and Saturday, 10 a.m. until noon.
“We know that back-to-school is a highly anticipated, crucial, and often stressful time for kids and their families. Being part of these wonderful initiatives is a small way that Colony Square Mall can be part of the bigger picture – helping our youth and the community as a whole,” Brailer said. “We are so thankful for these programs and all Eastside Community Ministries and other local non-profits do to support people in need. Colony Square Mall is community-oriented, and we are glad to offer a great location for these programs to serve those around us.”
For more information about Lace Up for Kids “A Back-to-School Extravaganza,” please visit eastsideministry.org/Events/Lace-Up-For-Kids. Also, be sure to go to colonysquaremall.com for more event information as well as a directory of stores and dining options.