Shops to Shorten Hours Christmas Eve

Shoppers looking for last-minute Christmas gifts will have to contend with special holiday schedules at many Ventura County retail stores, while the time to ship Christmas packages has almost run out.

Area shopping malls that have extended their hours during the holiday season will close their doors earlier than usual Christmas Eve, mall officials say.

The Oaks mall in Thousand Oaks will remain open until 5 p.m. Friday, while the Buenaventura Mall in Ventura, and the Esplanade Mall and Wal-Mart in Oxnard will close at 6 p.m. The malls will remain closed Christmas Day.

Today is the last day to ship packages by Federal Express or United Parcel Service for arrival before Christmas, company representatives say.

A spokeswoman for Federal Express said the last pickup today for delivery Friday is scheduled for 2 p.m., slightly earlier than usual. While the shipper’s stations will be open Friday, packages will not be delivered until Monday.

UPS reports a normal schedule today, but will schedule pickups Friday only for air mail packages.

Post offices will remain open Friday, but no deliveries will be made Christmas Day.

Ventura County banks will close earlier than usual Friday. The Bank of A. Levy, Ventura County National Bank and Coast Federal will close at noon, First Nationwide Bank at 1 p.m., Wells Fargo Bank at 3 p.m., and Bank of America at 4 p.m. All banks will remain closed on Christmas Day.

All government offices will close Friday, with some city offices also on special holiday schedules today.

City halls in Camarillo and Port Hueneme will close at noon today and at 12:30 p.m. in Moorpark. Simi Valley City Hall will be closed all day today and Friday.