PROVIDENCE — A power failure forced about half of the stores and several restaurants at the Providence Place mall to close for most of yesterday, on the last Sunday before Christmas.

The north end of the mall lost power at about 5 a.m. after water penetrated an underground electrical system, said Craig Gorris, the mall’s senior manager.

A repair crew fixed the problem shortly before 4:30 p.m. “It was fairly vexing to fix,” said mall spokesman Dante Bellini Jr.

Many employees arrived before 8 a.m. to discover the power out. Among others, Talbots, Ross-Simons, Bath & Body Works and the Apple Store remained shuttered during the morning and midafternoon. Dave & Buster’s and The Cheesecake Factory also lost power.

After lunch, some employees sat on the mall carpet outside stores, waiting for the lights to come on. Shoppers near Nordstrom walked up and down the stalled escalators. No one built a bear at the darkened Build-A-Bear Workshop. Christmas music played but the three-story holiday lights that hung from the rafters were unlit.

“It’s horrible,” said Radio Shack salesman Don Rhodes, who stood at the front of the store while employees used flashlights to get around.

Major anchors –– Macy’s, J.C. Penney and Nordstrom –– were not affected. The movie theater showed Northing Like the Holidays and The Day the Earth Stood Still. Repair crews, the Providence Fire Department and National Grid were notified in the morning, said Bellini.

Shoppers jammed the open half of the mall, boosting sales in stores such as Newbury Comics. “It’s been very busy,” said a clerk there.

The food court was jammed, too, but half the restaurants were closed, including Popeye’s and Ben & Jerry’s.

“To our valued customers: Due to power failure we’re unable to operate until further notice!” said a sign outside Dunkin’ Donuts. “Sorry for the inconvenience!”

Angela Confoey, from Fall River, shopped in Nordstrom first, and then noticed the lights were out elsewhere. It didn’t stop her. She found “good sales” at Macy’s, and for lunch, Confoey, her husband and their two children ate pizza in the food court. “We’re working with what’s open,” she said.

But Gustavo Alonso, from Providence, was disappointed. “This is New England,” he said. “People are supposed to be prepared for bad weather.”

At least half the mall was busy, said manager Gorris. “Considering the weather, and an important football game on TV, there’s a lot of traffic.”

Sunday shoppers got a rare break, too: free parking.

pdavis@projo.com