WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Some shoppers are getting ahead of the holiday crowds.
Bobby Witherspoon picked up his online Bath and Bodyworks order from Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem.
"With it being so close to the holidays I thought wow it may be a crowd. But not so bad," Witherspoon said. "I thought I'd use the convenience of online ordering."
The Moore's took their grandson to see Santa.
"It was a wonderful experience," said Theresa Moore.
Moore said she hasn't been to Hanes Mall in years because of violence there.
"I was born and raised and grew up coming to Hanes Mall," Moore said. "Honestly coming here by myself I'm too scared to come and that's sad so the hubby came home early today so I said let's try it before Black Friday."
Three months ago there was a shooting inside the mall that put someone in the hospital.
But it's not the only mall where security is a concern.
In Greensboro, someone was shot last Friday in the parking lot of the Four Seasons Town Centre.
Violence years ago led the mall to require a chaperone on the weekends for anyone under 18.
They also have officers and a security canine on site.
We reached out to the Four Seasons Mall to ask about its safety plans ahead of the holidays but haven't heard back.
Back in Winston-Salem, Hanes Mall marketing director Brad Gaither said shoppers have nothing to worry about.
"We work very closely with the Winston Salem police department and we have off-duty officers here all the time but especially during the holiday season so you'll see them," Gaither said. "We also have a k9 on the property."
A Winston-Salem police cruiser was spotted just outside the mall's entrance.
"If it's like this, I would come all the time because it's been very nice and to see all the different stores because I had no clue what was open anymore," Moore said.
Gaither said there are some incentives for shoppers this year. The first 75 people who spend $200 will get free photos with Santa.
"You can meet me below the food court on the south side of the mall, Gairth said. "I have a table and a poster. You can't miss me."
When it comes to shopping in general, you might think most people shop online but Hanes Mall said it's expecting more than 150,000 visitors on Black Friday weekend.