Shoppers get early jump on Black Friday

Many area stores that opened their doors Thanksgiving evening for early Black Friday discounts on merchandise were greeted by lines of customers despite the holiday.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is known to kick off the holiday shopping season as crowds of shoppers wake up early -- or stay up late -- to score deep discounts on merchandise. Some stores this year offered Black Friday discounts on Thanksgiving Day.

Some customers who waited in the cold to make purchases did not believe stores' earlier opening times would have a large effect on Black Friday shopping attendance.

Elizabeth Leible on Thursday stood in the entrance of Wal-Mart in Cape Girardeau with a cart full of toys she bought for her two children. Leible is from St. Louis but does her Black Friday shopping in Cape Girardeau while she visits with family who lives in the region.

"I think the turnout's just like it would be on Black Friday morning, only it's Thanksgiving," Leible said.

Chris Myers of Springfield, Mo., said the fact Black Friday shopping this year started for some stores on Thursday meant less time with family.

"Well, less family time at home, more family time at Target," he said.

Myers was visiting family who live in Poplar Bluff, Mo., and stood in line at Target in Cape Girardeau with his wife, sister and niece.

Others who waited in line saw where earlier shopping times could be a problem.

Amy Clippard of Fruitland on Thursday stood in line with a friend at Sears in Cape Girardeau. Clippard said she had to leave her mother's Thanksgiving earlier than usual to get in line.

"I wasn't too happy about that," she said. "I mean, it takes away from Thanksgiving."

Clippard's family ate a Thanksgiving lunch, but the earlier Black Friday shopping times could affect those who normally eat a Thanksgiving dinner, she said.

Because Black Friday deals were offered earlier at some stores, Myers said many people may think the holiday is becoming more commercialized.

"There's a lot of people that are going to get worn out at the fact that it keeps encroaching more and more on the actual holiday itself, as oppose to what it's really for, which is getting back together and reconnecting," Myers said.

Taylor Kirchdoerfer of Chaffee, Mo., stood in line at Cape Girardeau's Best Buy with her boyfriend and his sister to purchase a Microsoft Surface computer. The group already had celebrated their Thanksgiving with lunches earlier in the day.

She said the earlier deals probably would affect the number of shoppers taking advantage of Black Friday deals.

"It's not Black Friday anymore. It's Black Thursday now," Kirchdoerfer said.

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