Black Friday is here, but shoppers are already out in full force, taking advantage of early openings on Thanksgiving Day in the hunt for big deals.
The Toys R Us in Times Square opened promptly at 5 p.m. on Thursday. That’s the earliest the store has ever opened to kick off its holiday shopping season.
When the doors opened, shoppers reacted like they had won a prize.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said one shopper.
Shoppers came from all over the country to shop at Times Square.
“I’m used to big crowds and this really gets me excited about the holidays,” said a man from Philadelphia.
“Crowds are crazy here,” said a man from Utah.
“It’s beautiful up here this time of year,” said a woman from Georgia.
And of course, shoppers came from the five boroughs. Locals braved the crowds and the tourists to find deals. In Brooklyn, the lines at Best Buy on Thursday stretched around the block, down another block and around another.
“I’ve been on this line since 5:30 this morning. Man, this line’s crazy, man, I’m waiting for this TV I’m waiting for this keyboard I’m waiting for this iPad for my ex-wife I’m trying to get back together with her,” a shopper said at the Brooklyn Best Buy.
Most Macy’s stores across the country opened at 8 p.m. on Thursday, the first time Macy’s has ever opened on Thanksgiving in its 150 year history.
Shoppers were at the flagship store in Herald Square early Friday, trying to find holiday bargains and beat the crowds.
“We came in about 2 o’clock. It was a little crowded but now it seems to have decreased. There’s not too many people shopping. But I’m really surprised everybody’s out buying stuff. That’s great for the economy. It’s going to be really good,” said a shopper.
The trend toward sales on Thanksgiving has been growing in recent years.
Research firm ShopperTrak says sales last Thanksgiving were up 55 percent over the previous year as more stores opened on the holiday.
Sales on Black Friday of last year dropped nearly 2 percent from 2011.
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via Great Local News: New York http://newyork.greatlocalnews.info
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