Thanksgiving shopping was a ‘bust’

A sign promoting Black Friday specials is displayed in the window of a J.C. Penny store as shoppers queue up at the door for a 3 p.m. opening, Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in northeast Denver. “I still wish the stores would close on thanksgiving so the employees could spend time with their families, but you got to do what you go to do”.

Channel 9 was out at the Southpark Mall Thursday night and spoke to shoppers about why they keep shopping on Thanksgiving or Black Friday each year. Copeland said that she was happy just to be out wandering the aisles and getting in the holiday spirit, but said she was nostalgic for previous Black Friday events when she was shopping with friends in the wee hours of the morning.

It wasn’t just Best buy with the crowds, Target saw them too. It was a similar scene at the Best Buy and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in Mt. Laurel.

Shelly Petty, who worked for 13 hours at a mall anchor store before doing some shopping herself, said the mall seemed to stay pretty busy all night.

Buy from stores you know and make sure you check out each company’s return policy so you don’t run into any trouble if you decide you don’t want the gift. “Kids’ toys, that’s about it, and PJs”. “I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love it”, he said.

“We will get the crowds”.

Director of Marketing Stephanie Blavat-Vesely said, “We’re expecting a very good day today”.

The weekend, which includes Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and the Sunday yet unclaimed by any interest group, is expected to draw 136 million shoppers to brick-and-mortar stores.

– Black Friday used to kick off the holiday shopping season, but now that day has taken a backseat to Thanksgiving Day. Even though the mall may be crowded – they say that’s part of the fun. She said they’ve had to adapt their strategy to the demand of the times.

Walters said he got the best of both worlds.