Black Friday in the Twin City

[JerseyBoy]

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the Four Seasons early opening this morning due to family leaving late last night and this morning on their way back up north, but after seeing some commericals for JC Penney stating they were opening at 4:00 AM I decided I would go to Hanes Mall and photograph the crowds. I arrived at 4:20 and to my surprise the retail corridors in the mall were open although hardly any stores were. The traffic (foot and car) didn't pick up until 5:30ish. After requesting permission to take some photographs with mall management, I walked around the mall to notice people already lining up at Belk, GameStop, RadioShack, and Bath & Body Works. Once traffic started to considerably pick up, many of the stores were only letting in a handful of customers at a time. I presume this was to avoid the mob of crowds that plagued many stores last year. It was entertaining to see people lugging heavy bags like jolly ole' Saint Nick full of marked-down merchandise over their backs and dragging them on the parking lot to their car. After taking some photos of the parking lots I headed back inside to see the food court filled to the max with hungry customers craving a slice of Sbarro pizza or a plate of Chinese food at 6:05 in the morning. Though there were your caffeine loving elitists lining up at Starbucks for their calorie loaded frappuccino and heavily marked up pastry. It is evident that some customers must've complained about the half-assed Santa display last year that CBL put up for the children to meet the good hearted fellow, since we now have a hut and a little bit more decorating than last year. All in all it was a good turn out of shoppers but I don't anticipate many retailers to set earth-shattering profit records this year. Here are some (I think I understated that word) photos I got:

Part I:

[JerseyBoy]

Part II:

[StevenRocks]

Nice pics. I ended up going to Four Seasons. It was pretty fun.

[sean]

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/11/2...IDAY_index.html

where are the smiles?