BEACHWOOD, Ohio — The sales came early at many shops this year, but for some stores and customers in Northeast Ohio, there’s no replacing the experience of racing to the store for the best deals the day after Thanksgiving.
“It’s a big day. It definitely is. But it’s definitely changed over the years because the stores are putting their sales out a little earlier and making it go a little later,” said Heidi Yanok, senior general manager of Beachwood Place.
Black Friday may not be what it once was, but the deals still pulled in some crowds well before sunrise at stores like the JCPenney at the Great Northern Mall in North Olmsted. Plenty of shoppers also roamed the halls and aisles at Beachwood Place in search of a deal. Some shops like Lego and Bath and Body Works even saw lines out the door throughout the day.
“You’re seeing the lines right behind me. They definitely want to be in the properties and they want to touch and feel and see what they’re purchasing,” Yanok said.
“I love the hustle and bustle,” said Tanya Manning-Grant, who owns Ashton’s Corner and Dresscode Boutique at Beachwood Place. “People are still coming in. People are still looking for the best deals.”
Manning-Grant said the need to think outside the box each year to drive more customers in store and online. This year, they’re doing something different with mystery bags—enclosed bags that contain three random items from the store. Customers can buy the bags for $99 and use the items on themselves or give them away as gifts.
“To me Black Friday is all about family. It’s about that tradition. It’s getting into the mall seeing everything that’s on sale,” she said.
Trenton Chaplin got up just after 6 a.m. to start his shopping experience at Aurora Farms by 7 a.m. Then he headed over to Beachwood Place with his friends.
“[At] Bath and Body Works there was buy three candles, get three free. So, you really can’t turn that down,” he said.
“I think this is the cheapest this has ever been,” said Phil Swanson, gesturing to his new box of Star Wars legos. “I think this is online as well. I just prefer going in store. [You] get to see a lot more stuff and deals that are out.”
If the deals—and Santa--aren’t enough to bring some people in, the nostalgia that can come with each Black Friday shopping experience was enough for others.
“Just the excitement. Touching, feeling, seeing all the people around is amazing,” shopper Diane Arteri said. “I mean look how pretty this is. Can’t get this online.”
“Growing up me and my family would go at like 11 p.m.,” Chaplin said. “The Black Friday sales, the excitement, the camaraderie with great friends.”
“It’s still got this nostalgic experience for everybody,” Yanok said. “You definitely see people shopping online. But as you can see in the mall, people still want to be out here. They still want to have this nostalgic experience of being in the properties. But they also shop online and pick up in store.”
Yanok said Black Friday continues to be a big shopping day for them. But it doesn't take the top prize for the year. That honor goes to the final Saturday before Christmas, she said. This season, it will be the day before Christmas Eve.