Some of the stores at the Meadowbrook Mall opened as early as 8 p.m. on what people called "Gray Thursday." But that wasn't the beginning of most of the shoppers' experience. Some of them went out to wait in line before they even had a chance to eat their Turkey Dinner.
Stores like Toys R Us, Target and Sears opened their doors at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Shoppers like Traci McGill played a waiting game. She sat in line for eight hours. McGill comes out every year and said you have to know what you're doing.
"You have to, we started actually about a week ago online, the Black Friday ads. And then today, all day, we've got a list of stuff. Have to have a strategy," said McGill.
McGill is looking for the big ticket items like TVs and laptops.
Natasha Hatala is another veteran at early bird shopping. Her family has Thanksgiving dinner early so it has time to shop.
"We already had Thanksgiving dinner at noon today with my family my grandfather and my mom and my Aunt Debby and my step dad Dave and my Steven and my little dog," Hatala said.
Cindy Bellotte ate her Thanksgiving dinner in the Toys R Us parking lot. She came at 11:30 a.m. to hold the first spot in line for her and her daughter. It's worth it to her. She said it's a bonding experience.
"My daughter and I have been doing this for probably at least fifteen years," said Bellotte. "I started when she was little and then when she got older and knew everything about Christmas she started going with me and it's been a tradition. Now she has children of her own that we shop for."
And shop they did.
The first 200 people that came through the doors at Toys R Us got a free party bag.
People rushed through the doors of the Meadowbrook Mall at 11 p.m. on Thursday and waited for the stores to open at midnight.
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