Early-bird shoppers will be able to flock to the region’s shopping malls sooner than ever on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, which marks the traditional start of the holiday season for retailers.

Burlington Mall, Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, Northshore Mall in Peabody, and Square One Mall in Saugus will open at 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 23, a full 3½ hours earlier than last year’s 4 a.m. opening. The move reflects a push by mall operator Simon Property Group of Indiana to cash in on consumers’ increasing appetite for holiday bargains.