Black Friday Forecast Down As Doors Open

Black Friday hit before the Thanksgiving clock struck midnight Thursday. Retailers opened earlier again in an effort to get more cash, even as national estimates point to less shopping this year. In Sioux Falls customers continued to flock to their favorite retailers for deals.

“I expected more people to actually show up. But I think it's going to pick up pretty soon. I think the closer it gets to opening, more people will show up,” Dave Havermann of Sioux Falls said as he waited outside of Best Buy to open Thursday.

As the hours ticked down the temperatures dropped and more people came by as Thanksgiving gave way to pre-Black Friday.

“We come every year. And it keeps getting earlier and earlier,” Justin Schwartz said as he waited outside Toys R Us in Sioux Falls late Thursday afternoon.

Schwartz was fourth in line. He was bested by Matt Blume of Sioux Falls.

“[I came] A little after 4 p.m. My wife dropped me off,” Blume said.

He had no idea what was on the list though.

“We went over it a little bit, but she's got the list. I'm stuck if she doesn’t bring it!” Blume said.

Parents lined up for tablet computers and action figures at discount prices. In some instances no purchase was even necessary.

“[I came for] the free bag of toys, so he can play with the toys,” Rhonda Horton of Luverne, Minnesota, said as she waited in line with her son Gabriel. “That's the only thing I'm coming here for. I'm not even coming for the deals!” Horton said with a laugh.

Toys R Us expected more than 1,000 customers to wait in line for the deals.