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Black Friday less frantic this year

Extended shopping hours spread out the crowds

Black Friday got off to an early start Thursday night in Durango.

At 11 p.m., Walmart’s parking lot was packed, and its aisles teemed with shoppers determined to get the best bargain possible on printers, Barbie dolls and children’s tricycles, come hell or high water.

But in comparison to the murderous Black Friday mobs that made national headlines in previous years, Black Friday seemed a little less crazy across the country.

There were squabbles here and there, and elbows got thrown, but the Friday morning crowds appeared smaller than usual and less frenzied, in part because many Americans took advantage of stores’ earlier opening hours to do their shopping Thanksgiving Day.

That might be hard to stomach for people worried about commercial encroachment on Thanksgiving. But it is good news for bargain-hunters who hate crowds.

Whether it’s good news for retailers remains to be seen. Sales estimates for the start of the holiday shopping season will start trickling out later in the weekend.

In Durango, some stores saw spasms of commerce this year.

Indeed, it appeared that very few La Plata County residents were boycotting Walmart on Thanksgiving Day.

At 9:37 p.m. Thursday, a well-dressed, dark-haired man in his early 30s preferred to urinate in the clogged parking lot between two cars amid freezing temperatures rather than brave the crowd indoors.

Inside the store, one dark-haired woman in her early 20s, who wore suede knee-high boots and a fashionably oversized jacket, hunted through the lingerie section for deals, but, perhaps unsurprisingly, found nothing of interest. (She also eschewed the trouser section; though, interestingly, later she bought wrapping paper.)

By noon Friday, Walmart attracted a different kind of crowd, as protesters gathered on the highway to demand a livable wage on behalf of Walmart employees.

But in addition to Walmart’s parking lot, locals apparently relieved themselves from the various stresses of Black Friday superstore shopping by patronizing other local businesses.

At 1:41 p.m. Friday, a line of nine people had formed in the lobby of Durango Organics in Bodo Park, where there were Black Friday deals on medical marijuana as well as a 10 percent discount on a recreational “eighth.”

Johnny Radding, manager, said business on the recreational side had been especially hopping.

He said the store was “absolutely” getting customers who were busy making the obligatory Black Friday pilgrimage to Walmart, “both before and after.”

But, he said, most of Durango Organics’ clientele weren’t buying Christmas gifts.

“I get the sense that most of the stuff they’re buying is for now,” he said.

On Friday afternoon, it was difficult to find a parking space at Durango Mall. But merchants said shopping wasn’t a priority for the majority of mall-goers, who, given their disinterest in the sales, were probably watching “Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” at the adjacent movie theater instead of spending in the mall.

Claire’s Accessories manager, Monica Purdum, said business was lackluster despite the fact that the entire store was subject to a “buy one, get one half off” Black Friday promotion.

“Things have been pretty quiet in the mall,” she said.

“We’ve had a few people but nothing too exciting. I’d probably say it’s not as good as it was last year,” she said.

On Main Avenue, trade seemed brisker.

Late Friday afternoon, Durango Toy Depot’s Sue Searle said throughout the day, the store had seen a lot of foot traffic. She said as part of Black Friday, the store was offering $10 off any $50 purchase, and $20 off any $100 purchase.

“It’s been a very good shopping day,” she said.

cmcallister@durangoherald.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Nov 28, 2014
Walmart gets protesters


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