Mild weather helped last minute shoppers get Christmas in the bag

NORTH BEND, Wash. - Shoppers who had to pick up some last-minute items headed to the North Bend Premium Outlets on Tuesday to get what they needed before the big celebrations kicked off on Wednesday. 

Fortunately, the weather held out on Tuesday evening, so those who waited until the last minute had an easier time getting what they needed. 

"We went to a little place called Birches Habitat at the outlet mall, and it’s saving our bacon," said Samit Choudhuri, a North Bend resident. 

For some, like the father and daughter duo, Samit and Leela, the inspiration to wrap up Christmas shopping came late on Christmas Eve. 

"We literally thought of it two hours ago, because my wife said her stocking was empty, and, I’m like ‘Uh Oh. I better get rolling. Somebody’s going to get in trouble," said Samit Choudhuri, laughing. 

North Bend last minute shoppers on Christmas Eve 2024

With time ticking onward, Samit and Leela made it to the outlet in the nick of time. 

"We just bought for mom.  We just bought for like, sister elsewhere. I just bought a little stocking-stuffer, because I’m super on it," said Samit, making another joke. 

Leela joined in on the jokes and said she liked providing an excuse to go to the outlet stores. 

"She said, 'Can you drop my sister at home so she doesn’t know what I’m buying her," said Samit.  "Yeah, that’s true. That’s what we are doing. We are desperate-shopping and my wife is angry-texting about getting errands done."

The urgent messages were still coming in from home, as the clock wound down on Christmas Eve. 

"That’s passive-aggressive for you are not doing enough around the house," said Samit jokingly referring to some of the messages.  

Last-minute shoppers were also hoping to get a good deal.  

"I’m a procrastinator, so North Bend Outlet is the place to go," said Ruby Saylor, a last-minute shopper.

 Saylor said she was going in with a plan of attack.  

"I’m going to go to "Wishes" and get some stuffed animals," said Saylor. "I do have a game plan."

Shoppers told me they were also prepped for the possibility of strong winds overnight, so Mother Nature didn't spoil plans to open those hard-won gifts. 

"We have all our generators ready because of the power outage we had a few weeks ago. It’s Christmas, so, I want to make sure everything is good. But we are ready, everything is tucked in."  

Maybe a little Christmas magic was at work as mild weather helped shoppers along.  

"I might just steal hers," said Leela. 

 She suggested some last-minute decisions can produce the best results, even at the 11th hour. 

"I was looking at this and thought this will be so great for her and would be a really great Christmas present," Leela.

"It’s the built-in chopstick holder," said Samit. "She’s never going to expect anything like this."

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