5 Things You Need To Know About Tewksbury Shopping

Here are five pieces of information to be aware of as you head to the stores today.

1. Ocean State Job Lots Is Open: The store actually opened on Wednesday, was closed Thanksgiving and then re-opened today. Expect it to be mobbed.

2. Route 38 Will Be A Nightmare: There is no getting around it. Black Friday equals extra special traffic on Route 38. When possible, take Route 495 or some of the back roads to get from one side of town to the other. Before you hit the road, check the latest traffic info on the Tewksbury Patch Black Friday Traffic Guide.

If you were thinking about dropping into the Tewksbury Sears, think again. The company recently renovated the 10 Main Street location and turned it back into a Kmart, which it had been until about six years ago.

__ Walmart had hoped to have its transition to a Super Walmart done in October. However, the work is still going on, which could cause some delays and parking issues.

5. Avoid The Crowds, Shop Small: Tewksbury has an abundance of boutique shops and salons that are offering outstanding bargains all weekend long. If you don't enjoy the big crowds of department stores and malls, consider dropping in and doing your Christmas shopping with some of Tewksbury's wonderful small businesses.