The day after Thanksgiving, shoppers in the Atlanta area began lining up early for Black Friday deals. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, many people waited outside Bass Pro Shops at Sugarloaf Mills, braving the cold with blankets and portable heaters. They were drawn by the chance to receive gift cards worth up to $500 for the first 250 customers, part of a nationwide giveaway totaling an estimated $1 million.
At the Mall of Georgia, crowds gathered early for Black Friday deals, even with the option to shop online. The National Retail Federation says 65% of the 183 million weekend shoppers bought items in stores. Shopper Kendsey Ray told FOX 5, "We live about an hour away. They came and picked me up at 5, so we drove, but all the sales are really good."
In a WSB-TV interview, shoppers at Tanger Outlets in Locust Grove, like Neely South and her family, embraced the early hours as part of their long-standing shopping tradition. South, who has been participating for 30 years, joked, "If you're not first, you're last," reflecting the excitement of those eager to take advantage of the "doorbuster" deals.
For many, Black Friday is a chance to bond and take a break from daily routines. As Brandy Spillers said, "Well, I enjoy it because it’s an all-girls day." Charlotte Glover enjoys shopping in person, saying, "I shop till I drop." Wanda Cole and her husband talked about the tradition of going out, saying, "You still have that Christmas tradition of getting out." Rhonda Melancon, who works at Vera Bradley, enjoys helping others, saying, "I get to be like one of Santa's little elves." This year, some shoppers returned to stores after a break due to early Thanksgiving openings, with traditional Friday hours drawing them back. Tanger Outlets reported parking lots at 80% capacity by 8:15 a.m., showing that Black Friday shopping is still popular, as stated by WSB-TV.
