The race to the finish line: It's on

Well, you've done it again, you procrastinator: You've waited until the last minute to buy Christmas gifts. Or maybe you're running out to grab some last-minute stocking stuffers or supplies you previously neglected? Whatever the reason, mere hours remain before retailers shut their doors for the holiday. Most retailers, that is: Many gas stations will remain open through Christmas, and selected local drugstores will be open, too. Anyway, to aid you in your last-minute quest, here's a more detailed look at local operating hours during the next few days:

Local mall hours
All area malls are closed on Christmas. Individual merchants' hours, especially those at anchor stores, may vary.

CAROLINA MALL, Concord

Today: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

CAROLINA PLACE, Pineville

Today: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

CONCORD MILLS

Today: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

WESTFIELD EASTRIDGE, Gastonia

Today: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

MONROE CROSSING

Today: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

NORTHLAKE MALL, Charlotte

Today: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

ROCK HILL GALLERIA

Today: 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.

SOUTHPARK, Charlotte

Today: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

VALLEY HILLS MALL, Hickory

Today: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Other merchants

• Many department stores, including Belk, will close at 6 p.m. today.
• The majority of Wal-Mart stores will close at 6 p.m. today, with a few remaining open until 8 p.m. They will all be closed on Christmas, with 24-hour stores reopening at 6 a.m. Saturday and all others reopening at their regular time.
• Target locations will be open until 7 p.m. today, closed Friday and will reopen an hour early on Saturday, at 7 a.m.
• Toys R Us stores in Pineville and Gastonia will be open until 9 p.m.

Open on Christmas

Many chain drugstores across the area will be open normal hours, often until 9 p.m. or later, on Christmas Eve. Most are closed Christmas day, but there are some exceptions, including:

• Rite Aid at the Arboretum, 3345 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Rite Aid, 8110 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• CVS, 5100 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• CVS, 2325 Village Lake Drive at Independence Blvd., Charlotte, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• CVS, 8420 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• CVS, 9915 Park Cedar Dr., Charlotte, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• CVS, 10515 Mallard Creek Road, Charlotte, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Walgreens: 24-hour stores and their pharmacies will remain open; there are 12 across the region. Non-24-hour stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and their pharmacies will be closed. The link above will take you to a store locator page.