Stores open for Black Friday on Thanksgiving

Black Friday sales got underway a day early…on Thanksgiving.

Many stores throughout mid-Missouri opened their doors Thursday night.

ABC 17 News monitored the crowds at Target throughout the night. Prior to the 6 p.m. opening, a line stretched all the way around the front of the store to the back.

“I’ve been waiting for two hours!” shopper Grant Allison said.

Most people skipped dessert for the deals on technology, although shoppers also said they were hoping to beat the crowds.

“It wasn’t as bad as it can be on Black Friday,” shopper Ray Kaisher said. “But one lady fell…that only happens at this time.”

“People were everywhere! Everybody was looking, getting this and that, and you’re trying to figure out your way around the store so, yeah, it was hectic,” shopper Wendell Carothers agreed.

But despite saving big bucks, most shoppers said they were upset the stores were opening on Thanksgiving, taking employees and customers away from their family.

“I don’t agree with that but it is what it is. It’s all marketing, ya know what I mean?” shopper Kelsie Seina said.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, people should be with their families,” Carothers agreed.

140 million shoppers are expected to hit sales this weekend — 18% of those shopped Thursday night.