With only three full weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, retailers in Cy-Fair are preparing for a busy holiday season.

Ginger Lester, co-owner of Lizzy G's Fine Gifts in Vintage Park, said the boutique has seen a steady increase in business in the past year and expects to see it continue through the holidays.

"In a gift shop like ours, the holiday season is critical," she said. "For us, it accounts for a significant amount of yearly revenue, so we work very hard to have the best possible selection for holiday shoppers."

Much activity has been occurring at Vintage Park in the past few months, with a handful of tenants that have recently opened and more under construction, including Another Broken Egg Cafe, Facon Brazilian Steakhouse, Anytime Fitness and Mo's Irish Grill.

"I think that the holiday sales were strong last year, and we anticipate it will be much higher this year," said Ben White, vice president of Dunhill Partners, the shopping center's owner. "We have a lot of new tenants coming in."

Willowbrook Mall—which has more than 120 stores—is ready for the holiday season, with some retailers opening at 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

"With the Houston economy—especially here in the northwest quadrant—continuing to outpace the nation, we are expecting a robust holiday season here at Willowbrook Mall," said Diana Elkins, marketing manager for the mall. "The National Retail Federation is forecasting holiday sales will increase 3.9 percent during the holiday season months of November and December."

Holiday sales can represent 20 to 40 percent of annual revenue for businesses, according to the National Retail Federation. In 2012, the months of November and December represented about 25 percent of sales for the mall's retailers, Elkins said. Black Friday is also another high-traffic day at the mall, which saw thousands of visitors last year.

"Last year, beginning at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, we gave away holiday bags to our shoppers," Elkins said. "By 10 a.m., all 5,000 were gone. That's 5,000 individuals who picked up the bags in just four hours."