On Thursday I left for South Haven to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday with my family. Sadly, I had to leave behind my boyfriend. Why? One word: retail. He works for two big-box stores here in Grand Rapids. For Black Friday shopping, one opened at 5PM on Thursday, the other at 5AM on Friday. When I texted to see how things were going, he said it was "really quiet". Compared to years past, there were a lot less people in line when the store opened, and a lot less shoppers all day. (He didn't even see one fight! Crazy!)

Looks like that may have been the case all around West Michigan. Is Black Friday shopping not such a big deal anymore?

According to WZZM-13, many stores in Grand Rapids saw shorter lines this year on Black Friday, whether actually opening on Thursday or Friday.

Jennifer Damkoehler, manager at Toys-R-Us in Kentwood, told WZZM-13,

"I just think there are a lot more retailers open at 5:00 this year. There are more places for people to go. Also, there are a lot of on-line deals. I think that also plays into people's decisions."

The 5PM opening of many retailers on Thursday was an hour earlier than last year. Kinda makes you wonder what's next-- opening at noon on Thanksgiving? Opening at midnight "Thanksgiving Eve"?

In a statement on their website, Best Buy defended their decision to open at 5pm on Thursday:

While we recognize the decision to open on Thanksgiving affects Best Buy employees, customers have made it clear that many of them want to begin shopping on Thanksgiving evening. In recent years, millions of Americans have shopped on Thanksgiving, and our store associates are excited and prepared to help customers fulfill their holiday wish lists. Most Thanksgiving evening shifts are filled by employees who volunteer to work. All hourly store employees who work on Thanksgiving will, of course, receive holiday pay.

 

Not everyone thinks stores should open for Black Friday on Thanksgiving. One West Michigan resident, Danielle Fenstemaker, waiting outside of Cabela's in Grandville (which opened at 5AM Friday) told WZZM-13:

"I'd rather support the businesses that do Black Friday the way I think it should be done. Give us our holiday, then we can get the good deals."

She had spent Thursday night in a tent camping outside of Cabela's.

 

 

 

 

 

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