Valley bargain hunters get a jump on holiday shopping

By SARAH LEHR

slehr@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

As night fell on Thanksgiving Day, the Green family of East Palestine had already filled the trunk of their car with Black Friday buys.

Mike, Shari and Pam Green joined about 35 others who waited outside for Dick’s Sporting Goods to open at 6 p.m. By that time Thursday evening, the Greens had already hit two Kmart stores and two Rite Aid locations in search of holiday buys. Their agenda also included Walmart, Five Below and Sears.

For the Greens, Black Friday shopping has become a family tradition. They go every year to buy gifts.

“We want to make sure everyone on our list has a little bit of Christmas,” Shari Green said.

Dick’s Sporting Goods welcomed early Black Friday customers until 2 a.m. following Thanksgiving. The store was to reopen today at 5 a.m. and stay open until 10 p.m.

Best Buy also opened its doors Thursday for pre-Friday Black Friday shoppers, though T.J. Maxx down the street remained shuttered. T.J. Maxx joined several other chains, including Marshalls and Dillard's, in announcing that they would stay closed Thanksgiving Day out of respect for spending time with family.

Best Buy stayed open Thanksgiving from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. and reopened from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. today. At the Boardman location Thursday, the most popular deals included high-definition televisions. Pittsburgh residents Jo and Brian Weaber, who spent Thanksgiving with family in Youngstown, came for a computer but ended up snagging two 40-inch LED Insignia TVs for about $160 each – a $120 markdown.

Jo Weaber, a newbie to Black Friday shopping, remarked that the experience was less chaotic than she expected.

Shoppers at other Boardman stores made similar observations.

“It’s not as crowded as I would have thought,” said Jessica Curtis, who browsed J.C. Penney at the Southern Park Mall Thursday.

Years ago, Curtis went Black Friday shopping at Best Buy and Target and described that experience as a “madhouse.”

Kim Carrilon, general manager at the Boardman J.C. Penney’s, said 90 employees worked at the store Thursday. On Friday, all 170 staffers will report for duty, she said.

Southern Park Mall opened Thanksgiving from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. and will is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. today.