Published: November 28, 2008 10:00 pm      

Crowds multiply on Black Friday

EDMOND — “I don’t play fair. This isn’t illegal,” one Target customer told a line of people waiting in the cold for the 6 a.m. Black Friday store opening, as she jumped a barricade of grocery carts. Shoppers had nothing to worry about, though, as security already was in place to deal with people who weren’t on their best holiday behavior.

A declining economy did not keep Edmond shoppers home Friday, the traditional holiday sales kickoff commonly known in retail as Black Friday. In fact, it did the opposite. Thousands of people filled the parking lots of Edmond stores looking for the perfect bargain for that special someone.

“I’d say we got a better turnout than last year,” said Brian Guest, Edmond Target store team leader. “I think this year people are really excited. A lot of people in line come every year.”

Guest said electronics and toys were predicted to be the most popular items this year.

Target, 1200 E. Second St., offered 50 television sets that normally cost $429.99 for $299.

Two of those televisions left in the hands of brothers-in-law, Kevin Smith and Paul Kinyanjui. Smith said he was just relieved to be out of line as he walked to his car at about 6:30 a.m. after waiting for two hours outside for the store to open.

However, no one stood in line as long as Michael Krueger, who arrived at 2:30 a.m. to be the first shopper in line. Krueger said he was intent on getting a Legos Star Wars set for his son for Christmas.

“The other stuff, I’ve gotten online,” he said. “I expected (the line) to be worse. That’s why I got here so early.”

Despite the current economic situation nationally, Krueger said he plans to spend about the same amount of money on Christmas gifts as he did last year. Amy Foster, an Edmond resident, said she told herself that she would spend less this year, but as she tells herself that every year, she expects to spend the same.

Foster also was one of the first in line at Target, but that wasn’t her first stop. She stood in line beginning at 3:05 a.m. at Kohl’s Department Store, 2201 W. Danforth Road, for its 4 a.m. opening. She said she was out of the store by 4:06 a.m. She bought a set of kitchen knives for $70 at KOHL’S and was in line at Target for an air compressor and a television set.

“The knives are for me because I deserve them after cooking Thanksgiving dinner,” Foster said.

Most of the retailers were ready for the anxious shoppers Friday morning. Guest said Target employees set everything out Wednesday night and workers began coming in as early as 4 a.m. Friday. Ron Hayes, Kohl’s manager, arrived for work at 1:30 a.m. Friday and employees began arriving at 3 a.m.

He said about 1,000 people had arrived by the time doors opened at 4 a.m., which was about the same as last year. Hayes said they still are unsure what the rest of the month will bring as a result of the economy.

“The weekends have been good so far but it’s been a little soft in the mid-days compared to last year,” Hayes said.

Leann Priebe, a Kohl’s shopper, said she plans to spend half of what she spent on Christmas gifts last year because of the economic crisis. She first went to Wal-Mart at 5 a.m., which she said was more chaotic with shoppers, and then arrived at KOHL’S to shop for more toys.

Downtown stores appeared to be doing well Friday, too.

Scott Weathers, owner of Weathers TV and Appliance, said his store actually saw a big increase earlier this week.

“We were really busy Wednesday, which is unusual,” he said. “Now that the election is over, I think things are stabilizing.”

cbryce@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 112