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North Shore shoppers turned out early for deals
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Updated: December 30, 2012 6:17AM
GLENVIEW
Doorbusters Black Friday began earlier on a Thursday this year as Thanksgiving night shoppers began lining up about 5: 30 p.m. at the Glenview Target store.
By 8:16 p.m., the line at 2241 WIllow Road was snaking past the storefront to neighboring Michaels and OfficeMax.
“I mean, I got here at six and there were already people in line,” said Jackie Beauvais, executive team leader of Glenview Target Assets Prevention, who used upside down red shopping carts and friendly but firm banter to keep the line in check.
Balmy early Thanksgiving temperatures were forecast to give way to a crisp wait as Black Friday progressed with other top-name retailers opening at various times into the night until early Friday.
Doors at Chicagoland Target stores were heavily advertised to open at 9 p.m. sharp, with an all-at-once stream of shoppers allowed in.
Hot Black Friday ticket items again this year were electronics.
Saul Rodriguez, of Chicago, and Bill Spellman, of Palatine, sat in their comfy chairs waiting for the doors to open. Rodriguez’s seat of choice was a blue folding sports chair.
“Oh yeah, it’s pretty awesome,” laughed Rodriguez, of his front row seat near the Target door.
“See, I can put my drink in here, I got my pink umbrella too …”
Yes, it did drizzle for early birds. The curious included Northbrook Glenbrook North High School pals who were here for the drama, not really to buy anything.
The first person in line, Paulina Garcia, a 30-year Glenview resident, sought the $499 iPad.
“I’m very glad it’s not cold,” said Garcia, who brought her daughter Lissette, 6, a Glenview Westbrook School first-grader.
Beauvais and Target management prepared team members with pep talks, anticipating deal seekers who would make a beeline to the flatscreen televisions.
Stuart Herndon, 21, a University of Illinois senior from Wilmette, left empty handed from electronics with no camera for his girlfriend Jamie.
“I don’t know,” said Herndon, with a sigh about 15 minutes after the store opened. “We’ll just try to figure out some more deals …”
Then there was Neil Welch, of Bannockburn, who hit the jackpot with his 50-inch flatscreen TV.
“It’s going in the man cave, right by the video game consoles,” said Welch, with a laugh.
“I was thinking of mounting it if it doesn’t tear the wall out. It just looks really nice, I am just really excited.”~.
