Shoppers wait in line in front of Kohls near Gunbarrel Road to open its doors at 6:00 p.m. for Black Friday specials Thanksgiving evening.NEW YORK – Early-bird shoppers headed to stores on Thanksgiving in what’s becoming a new holiday tradition.
By 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving, 100 shoppers were in line at the Toys R Us in New York City’s Times Square. By the time the doors opened at 5 p.m., the number of people waiting in line had doubled.
Mary Smalls, 40, was there trying to get all her shopping done on Thanksgiving. She said she wanted to avoid heading out on the day after the holiday known as Black Friday.
“I’m going to try to avoid the crowds,” said Smalls, who plans on spending $300 or $400 on gifts this year.
Just a few years ago when a few stores started opened late on the holiday, the move was met with resistance from workers and shoppers who believed the day should be sacred.