The Black Friday shopping tradition is something of a misnomer. For many, it doesn’t start on Friday at all.
At the Galesburg Target store, for example, a line stretched from the entrance to the north side of the building before the doors opened at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving night. People in line held umbrellas to make the wait a little less damp.
Allen Lee of Knoxville was in line for a 43 inch Element brand TV for about $170.
Lee tells WGIL the weather wasn’t so bad.
“It’s just the rains,” he says. “It’s not really that cold, unlike last year. It was just freezing. Freezing, freezing.”
Just before opening the doors, Store Team Leader Andi Greenwell delivered a rally speech to get the Target employees pumped for the rush.
She says people see Black Friday shopping as an outing.
“I think it’s just a really fun and exciting way to get everybody super hyped about the holiday season and all the great deals that we’re gonna be having year round, but also just a great way to have the family come out.”
Locations all around town, particularly big box stores, saw huge crowds when they opened their doors Thanksgiving night, including at the Sandburg Mall and Walmart.
While the mall and Target were plenty busy, Walmart was absolutely packed. Galesburg police officers were to monitor the store.
Officers said last night the crowd was fairly tame.
