The annual Black Friday shopping frenzy at South Hills Village was in full swing this year as shoppers filled parking lots and lined up outside stores in the chilly pre-dawn hours. With deals on the line and holiday cheer in the air, the mall buzzed with the sound of commerce and families embracing tradition. WPXI reported Shema Krinsky, the mall's marketing director, expressing optimism with "full parking lots," a traditional indicator for a vibrant Black Friday turnout, expecting sales to "be up 3.5 percent."
Despite the cold, shoppers were determined not only to snag discounts but also to uphold cherished traditions. Rob Glass shared with WPXI that Black Friday shopping is a highly anticipated event with his granddaughter Gianna, a practice they've enjoyed for the last three years. For many, like Jen Hurrell, who was first in line at the Target in South Hills Village, Black Friday is a day to "Hopefully, a lot of Christmas shopping" done, as she told WTAE.
The attraction of Black Friday extends beyond merely finding the best bargains; it's also about celebrating relationships and enjoying the start of the holiday season. Glass summed up the experience, telling WPXI, "Getting older, kids are getting older, they're not gonna want us. So you gotta take advantage of the times that you have with them."
As the mall prepared to close at 9 p.m. on Black Friday, it's clear that many shoppers, like Riley Wilson, who spoke to WTAE, see the day as "our holiday," more important to them than even Thanksgiving.
