Black Friday shoppers find deals
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By CANDICE NOVITZKE mailto:candice.novitske@lee.net
Friday, November 23, 2007 10:45 PM CST
The words on Kathy Thornton’s sweatshirt summed up a mindset she could have easily adopted on Black Friday.
“Grumpy is a state of mind,” read the sweatshirt, showing a picture of “Grumpy,” a dwarf in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.”
Luckily, Thornton and her shopping party were still in good spirits at 11:30 a.m. Friday morning. Thornton, her daughter and two sisters left Thornton’s house in Chippewa Falls at 5 a.m.
Their first stop of the day was Menards in Eau Claire. Then, back to Chippewa Falls to hit Blain’s Farm and Fleet and ShopKo. Before leaving the Hallie area they had breakfast at Heckel’s, and headed over to Kmart in Chippewa Falls for some last-minute pick-ups.
“It’s a tradition,” Thornton said. “I think we got some good deals in the process.”
Lona Rothenbach of Bruce and her sister Wanda Smith of Thorp have another tradition on Black Friday.
“We decided we’re not going out early,” Rothenbach said. “It’s a nightmare; there’s no carts to be had, and people are screaming and fighting over things.”
The pair started buying items on their Christmas lists at around 11 a.m. Friday at Kmart in Chippewa Falls.
“We’re still getting lots of good deals,” Smith said.
Others who did go shopping early confirmed the long lines.
“It was crazy!” said Laura Rybaski of Chippewa Falls. “I had two items, and waited for an hour and a half in line at Kohl’s.”
Thornton heard lines at Target were among the longest.
Those who showed up early at Wal-Mart in Lake Hallie had the luxury of waiting indoors at the 24-hour store.
“One customer was here when I left Thursday night, and was still waiting when I arrived this morning,” said store manager Nathan Knuth.
Items that went on special at 5 a.m. were set up in advance but covered until the last moment.
Knuth said five or six items were all gone within the first minute.
Mari Rocheleau was working at the checkout when Kmart opened at 6 a.m.
“Actually, it was fun,” she said.
Despite a smooth morning, Kathy Thornton’s daughter Nicole Schlageter of Chippewa Falls was ready for a rest.
“I’m ready to go home and take a nap!” she said.
Reach Candice Novitzke at candice.novitzke@lee.net.
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