After weeks of scrounging the Internet for clues and awaiting Thanksgiving’s official arrival of the Black Friday print ads in the Beacon Journal — the wait is just about over.
One of the biggest shopping days of the year has yet to start, but some shoppers are already in line — camped out in tents a week out from the sales at the Cuyahoga Falls Best Buy.
Some retailers will be open all day today. But the long-anticipated “door buster” deals and fun for bargain shoppers doesn’t kick off until early Thanksgiving night — early enough that the turkey will still be warm.
Among the first retailers to offer sales will be Toys R Us, Walmart, Sears and Kmart, where the specials will start at 8 p.m. today.
Target opens an hour later followed by Best Buy, Kohls and Macy’s at midnight.
Retailers waiting to open on Friday include Staples, Home Depot and Lowes at 5 a.m., J.C. Penney, Office Max and Jo-Ann Fabrics at 6 a.m. with Dillards and Hobby Lobby at 8 a.m.
Share your shopping plans with us by tweeting. Use the hashtag #ohshops at the end of your tweet to be part of our coverage of the annual shopping event. We will run the tweets and other updates about the big shopping day here at Ohio.com.
1:31 p.m. Friday: Lin-Fisher: “Deal alert: one of the GroupOns for today is $10 for $20 at Toys R Us. Can be used after 5 p.m. until Dec. 24. Great for shopping.”
11:02 a.m. Friday: Oplinger: “Kohl’s at Arlington Rd and I-77 near Akron hit by a new wave, place is packed.”
1036 a.m. Friday: Joe Thomas, Beacon Journal national editor: “Hearing reports that there are no long lines and there’s plenty of parking at Rolling Acres Mall!”
10:16 a.m. Friday: Akron Zoo (on Twitter): “Zoo opens at 11. BOGO free t-shirts in gift shop.”
10:04 a.m. Friday: Jim Knotts (on Twitter): “No lines at Montrose Best Buy.”
8:52 a.m. Friday: Lin-Fisher: “Time to call it quits. Got lots of shopping done. Enjoy, shoppers!”
8:43 a.m. Friday: Dawn Bishop (on Twitter): “Late start 840. Just dropped kids off. Target first.”
8:23 a.m. Friday: Janis Worley (on Twitter): “Score! All Black Friday shopping done, still in PJ’s and never went farther than my computer. This is the way to do it!”
7:54 a.m. Friday: Lin-Fisher: “Spent more than planned @Bath/Body Works, but all gifts. Today only, you can stack all coupons. 20 items: $81.79. Saved $224.70!”
7:38 a.m. Friday: Werbeck: “Just watched video from an undisclosed Walmart where tensions were high. Lots of pushing, shoving, grabbing. Be careful out there.”
6:43 a.m. Friday: Wayne_In_Akron (on Twitter): “Longest wait, so far, of the 4 day shopping weekend is checkout @ K-Mart where credit card machines appear 2 be down. Who has cash?”
6:42 a.m. Friday: Bath Police Department (on Twitter): “Retail shops opened without incident in Bath. Traffic is moving smoothly on wet roadways.”
6:40 a.m. Friday: Lin-Fisher: “About 100 people waiting in the rain for Jcp to open in 5 minutes. Nothing compared to target last night.”
5:40 a.m. Friday: Lin-Fisher: “Back at it after a catnap. Heading to JCPenney in montrose. I’m sure there’s a line waiting for 6 am opening. 90% done w/my list.”
2:23 a.m. Friday: Lin-Fisher: “Took an hour and a half to get through line at Kohls in Bainbridge Twp. (Geauga). Very slow, but probably typical. Breakfast time!”
1:59 a.m. Friday: Warsmith: “In and out of toys r us in montrose fast. Sales staff helped me find all but two of the things I was looking for. My Sarah needs those moon shoes!”
1:19 a.m. Friday: Kadar: “Store manager gave out mystery coupons to shoppers waiting in long lines. Some were for $1 off while others were for $3 off. Some customers were trying on clothes while waiting in line. People signing up for a store credit card got bumped to the front of the line.”
1 a.m. Friday: Ryan Kinnan (on Twitter): “Summit Mall at 1 a.m. is packed very hard to find parking.”
12:55 a.m. Friday: Kadar: “Employee at Old Navy in Chapel Hill says customers ‘charged the gate’ to get in at midnight. Others rattled the store’s gate. First 40 or so shoppers got the new Mario Bros. game for the Wii U.”
12:38 a.m. Friday: Kadar: “Judging by the amount of people in Chapel Hill Mall, it’s hard to tell it’s 12:38 a.m. and not 12:38 p.m.”
12:37 a.m. Friday: Warsmith: “Able to park close at ToysRUs in montrose. Hoping thats a good sign!”
12:27 a.m. Friday: Abby Millsaps (on Twitter): “We were surrounded by teenagers from the moment we entered Summit Mall until we reached Victoria’s Secret.”
12:12 a.m. Friday: Kadar: “Ten minutes later and we have our first checkout. Just a digital camera.”
12:07 a.m. Friday: Kadar: “Someone in line: ‘Shopping at Best Buy on Black Friday is a badge of honor.’ Another: ‘It’s like a roach motel.’”
12:01 a.m. Friday: Kadar: “Best Buy just opened and the crowd has begun piling on. A police officer is stopping people from jumping the line. Best Buy employees are high-fiving customers as they give directions where to find items.”
11:58 p.m. Thursday: Tessa Webb (on Twitter): “Enormous lines at Medina Walmart still and manager says that there’s one-hour grace period for guaranteed in-stock items.”
11:52 p.m. Thursday: Warsmith: “Line at target in fairlawn died down. Woohoo!”
11:45 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “The delirious crowd at Best Buy just unsuccessfully tried to start the wave. There’s a second crowd of people just to watch the masses go in.”
11:42 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “Best Buy employees are announcing deals over a megaphone. The never-ending line now stretches around the back of the building.”
11:32 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “Someone in line at Falls Best Buy: ‘This line sucks, but at least the weather called off.’”
11:26 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “The check out line inside Target snakes through half the store with customers groaning. Quietest area is the Christmas display.”
11:21 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “One of the longer lines in the Falls right now? The drive-thru at McDonald’s.”
11:08 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “Over at Dick’s Sporting Goods in the Falls, a crowd of people has gathered while more are arriving at Chapel Hill Mall for midnight sales.”
11:07 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “Despite opening at 8 p.m., there is still a line of people waiting to get into the Cuyahoga Falls ToysRUs.”
11:01 p.m. Thursday: Lin-Fisher: “After three hours of shopping, the longest line - 55 min at Underarmour outlet at Aurora Farms. Got through Walmart and Target quicker!”
10:59 p.m. Thursday: Dean Moriarty (on Twitter): “Seeing the lines/parking lots, driving home down Howe Ave. destroys my faith in humanity as much as Honey BooBoo and YouTube comments do.”
10:51 p.m. Thursday: Rebekah Dickson (on Twitter): “In line for two hours at Sears for TV for them to give last ticket to people in front of us. One family got 3 tickets for same TV.”
10:48 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “The line at the Cuyahoga Falls Best Buy is now reached near the back of the building.”
10:38 p.m. Thursday: Ryan Kinnan (on Twitter): “With an hour and a half to go at Best Buy in Montrose the line is wrapped around half of the building...”
10:27 p.m. Thursday: Stephanie Warsmith, Beacon Journal reporter: “Line at Target in Fairlawn snakes through store to shoe department.”
10:36 p.m. Thursday: Tessa Webb (on Twitter): “TVs and iPads gone, and concern mounting that people won’t be able to check out in time for discounts that end at12 at Medina Walmart.”
10:06 p.m. Thursday: Lin-Fisher: “Aurora Farms has some stores open with no lines; line outside Coach store. Waiting in a long checkout line at Under Armour. Forty percent off.”
9:42 p.m. Thursday: Lin-Fisher: “Still got great deals at Target Hudson, even with 250 people in front of me and an eight-minute wait. No electronics on my list, though.”
9:34 p.m. Thursday: Tessa Webb (on Twitter): “iPads sold out at Walmart in Medina, so those waiting in line are getting ‘guarantee cards.’”
9:15 p.m. Thursday: Kinnan (on Twitter): “Complete madhouse at Walmart on Arlington not a parking space to be found.”
8:59 p.m. Thursday: Kinnan (on Twitter): “Only half hour wait at TRU at Chapel Hill.”
8:55 p.m. Thursday: Lin-Fisher: “Gonna wait in line at Target Hudson since we are done at Walmart and its only 10 minutes. In 20 minutes, the line tripled to 250 to 300 people.”
8:54 p.m. Thursday: Jimmy Davis (on Twitter): “Walmart in Macedonia parking lot completely full people parking back to Cinemark parking lot now! Crazy!”
8:49 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “Long long line of shoppers outside Fairlawn Target store at 8:45 p.m. for 9 p.m. Thanksgiving opening.”
8:39 p.m. Thursday: Lin-Fisher: “Walmart- Streetsboro 8:16. People with full carts leaving and parallel prkg. Lots with full carts inside in more lines. Got my stuff and out!”
8:29 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “ToysRUs manager psyches up employees with “Eye Of The Tiger” just before opening Montrose store. Opening wasn’t rocky at all.”
8:27 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “The parking lot at the Wal-Mart in Montrose at 8:20 p.m. is as full of cars as I have ever seen. Packed!”
8:27 p.m. Thursday: Brook Ames (on Twitter): “In line waiting for cheap Thanksgiving TV (wasted 5 hrs of quality time with family) having TV sold out before store opens - stupidity!”
8:27 p.m. Thurdsday: Doug Oplinger, Beacon Journal managing editor: “Line across front and around side at Target Arlington Ridge.”
8:15 p.m. Thursday: Lin-Fisher: “About 100 people waiting outside Target Hudson. Opens at 9. We will come back; don’t want anything bad enough to wait in line.”
8:11 p.m. Thursday: Wayne_In_Akron (on Twitter): “Whoo-hoo... 1st in line at side door @ Sears. Doors opened promptly at 8. 8:06 and I’m already back in car with <$50 18 PC T-Fal set. Feel bad for those who waited in line for hrs at Sears for doorbuster electronics. PA announcement at 8:03 said deals already gone.”
8:07 p.m. Thursday: Darrin Werbeck, Beacon Journal assistant copy desk chief: “Friend says tickets for TV at Chapel Hill Sears gone by 7 p.m., he’ll make hot chocolate run for wife instead, who is at Target.”
8 p.m. Thursday: Betty Lin-Fisher, Beacon Journal consumer columnist: “Heading out for some shopping! Going to check Target, Walmart in Hudson, Streetsboro, Aurora Farms. Gonna see how long we last!”
7:05 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “About 120 people in line outside ToysRUs in Montrose. Store will have 100 employees working tonight,”
7 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “People starting to pull into Montrose Best Buy for midnight opening. Weather is great for wait. Clear, 50 degrees.”
7 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “Line at the Cuyahoga Falls Best Buy has more than tripled in size in 24 hours and now stretches around to the side of the building.”
7 p.m. Thursday: Craig Madrin: “I am debating going to Best Buy to get that tv. I’ve never shopped on #BlackFriday before.”
7 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “Pretty quiet around the rest of the Falls shopping area. Calm before the storm, obviously.”
7 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “There is a line of shoppers all around ToysRUs in Montrose now. Just 4 people in line at 4 p.m. Economic growth.”
7 p.m. Thursday: Ryan Kinnan: “Wal-Mart in Stow a madhouse before 8 p.m.”
6:50 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “The line at the C. Falls Toys R Us is even longer as shoppers anticipate the 8 p.m. opening. Probably about 150 people waiting.”
6:45 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “The line at the Cuyahoga Falls Best Buy has more than tripled in size in 24 hours and now stretches around to the side of the building.”
6:35 p.m. Thursday: Kadar: “Nobody waiting early at Lowe’s, Kohl’s, GameStop or Marshall’s in Brimfield.”
6:30 p.m. Thursday: Dan Kadar, Ohio.com content manager: “The Brimfield Walmart has their items wrapped under clear plastic with customers waiting at various stations. Shoppers are being given a store map to find the items they want. The computers on sale are located in the same aisle as the liquor.”
4:45 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “People already shopping at Michaels art supplies/decor store. At least 20 cars in Montrose store lot.”
4:30 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “Thanksgiving turkey dinner followed by Life of Pi for dessert? Lots of cars in lot at Regal Cinemas in Montrose.”
4:15 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “Mike Post of Barberton 1st in line of 4 people at ToysRUs, Montrose. He prefers sports to shopping. Store opens 8 p.m. Post said he’s filling in for sick mom. Got here at 3. Five hour wait! Only guy in line at ToysRUs.”
4 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “Cracker Barrel restaurant in Montrose popular place for Thanksgiving. Full lot. Good turkey dinners??”
4 p.m. Thursday: Mackinnon: “5 tents pitched outside Best Buy in Montrose at 3:50 p.m. Also a truck- pulled camper. No crowds here.”
3:45 p.m. Thursday: Jim Mackinnon, a Beacon Journal business reporter: “People Thanksgiving Day shopping at Montrose (OH) Wal-Mart but 8 p.m. sales stuff under wraps. Calm scene.”
1:30 p.m. Thursday: Summit Racing: “10% off EVERYTHING in store tomorrow at @SummitRacing Tallmadge!”
12:30 p.m. Thursday: Wayne_In_Akron (on Twitter): “AM online shop slashed my Blk Fri ‘where to be’ list. Sweet desktop & laptop deals @BestBuy w/giftcard bonus fuelperks.”
2:30 p.m. Wednesday: Marla Ridenour, a Beacon Journal sports columnist: “Wondering why such a big crowd at Summit Mall. Already Black Friday at several stores, including Ann Taylor.”
