Who needs sleep when you can practically hear the sales calling from your nearby shopping mall?
That's the question tens of thousands of North Texas Black Friday shoppers are asking themselves, with the resounding answer of "Not me!"
"I mean, I ain't got nothing else to do. I got four children and they said, 'Mom, it's the Black Friday.' Mom is here!" said Tish Alexander of Fort Worth, who spent all night at the North East Mall in Hurst.
The North East Mall, like many other stores and shopping centers in the Metroplex, opened its doors at midnight. And like a retail "Field of Dreams" -- if you open it, shoppers will come.
"The mall's not the first stop," said Gerald Jordan of Colleyville, his two kids in tow. "[We] started with breakfast and it's progressively... we went from the mall to Kohl's to a lot of places."
Bargain hunting is the primary reason people told NBC 5 they came out in the middle of the night.
"Scarf, pants, sweater - everything, the entire outfit, for under $35!" one shopper exclaimed. She, like so many others, has turned the overnight ritual into a holiday tradition -- zipping from store to store with friends and shopping bags in tow.
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Over at the Galleria in Dallas, crowds were picking up Friday evening, looking even busier than Friday afternoon. Three of the parking garages were at capacity with the rest of the spaces at 95-percent capacity around 5 p.m.
The constant flow of people coming in and out are helping customers find places to park.
People took advantage of items discounted 60 to 70-percent off in some stores. Many retailers are also offering gift cards for customers who spend a certain amount in their stores.
Customers that spoke with NBC 5 said they’re pretty happy with the bargains.
“A lot of great deals,” says shopper Sean Jones of Dallas. “I’m probably spending a little less per item (than last year) but maybe spending near the same amount because I’m buying more.”
