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Black Friday shoppers buy on Thanksgiving Day
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A line forms at the main entrance of Southern Park Mall in Boardman on Thanksgiving. Customers who waited outside were eager to get their holiday shopping started. “This is my first time doing it on Thanksgiving,” said Holly Marshall of New Castle, Pa., while waiting in line. “It’s not as bad as I thought.”
By Brandon Klein | bklein@vindy.com
BOARDMAN
Some Mahoning Valley shoppers didn’t let Thanksgiving get in the way of shopping for Black Friday deals.
“Enjoy your Thanksgiving while we’re out here in the cold to shop deals,” said Klarence Thomas of Youngstown while waiting at the front of the line at Best Buy, 561 Boardman- Poland Road. He’d waited in line since 1:30 p.m. for the store to open at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Thomas said he was looking to buy a new TV, laptop and video games. He’s participated in Black Friday shopping each of the last three years.
“It’s definitely a tradition,” he said.
Some shoppers, however, made adjustments to their Thanksgiving Day traditions — such as Paulette Fry of New Middletown.
“I ate early so I could be here in line,” she said.
Fry wanted to buy the iPad Air 2, which is $100 off at Best Buy.
But Brittany Claibore of Farrell, Pa., said stores opening early on Thanksgiving takes away from the Black Friday experience. “This is more like Thanksgiving Day shopping,” she said. “It’s turning into a Black Thursday or whatever you want to call it.”
Claibore said she was hoping to buy a new PC laptop for $500, half the regular retail price.
As an experienced shopper on Black Friday, Claibore said her relatives were at different stores such as Target and Walmart in order not to miss out on the deals at those locations.
Although chaos and mayhem is usually associated with Black Friday, the atmosphere was quite peaceful and orderly for Best Buy when it opened its doors.
Doors opened an hour later at Southern Park Mall, 7401 Market St. Christmas music in the background welcomed a moderate line of shoppers at the food court entrance. Among them was Brenda Guido of Boardman, who planned to buy candles, soaps and lotions at Yankee Candle with her friend Sue Hale, also of Boardman.
“It’s a good social time with your friends,” Guido said.
The same sentiment was shared by another shopper, Holly Marshall of New Castle, Pa., who’s done Black Friday shopping for the last five years.
“I wouldn’t do it without [my friends],” she said.
Marshall said she was shopping for women’s clothing and accessories at Victoria’s Secret Pink store.
“This is my first time doing it on Thanksgiving,” she added. “It’s not as bad as I thought.”
Her friend Madeline Fleeger said Black Friday is a tradition in itself.
It’s also an opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done. Kayla Yousko of Youngstown bought $100 worth of toys for her son from Toys “R” Us Express, which included trucks, cars and Hulk Hands, which are a replica of the Incredible Hulk’s fist from Marvel’s Avengers franchise.
Although the Black Friday shopping started off quiet, holiday spending in Youngstown is projected to increase by 1.3 percent from last year, according to the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants.