By Sherry Koonce
The News staff writer
Savvy shoppers intent on finding holiday bargains filled the stores Friday starting in the wee hours of the morning.
“I started at 4 a.m. at Wal-Mart and purchased two TVs, a Rock Band, three bikes and a GPS,’ Kristina Clement, 32, of Groves, said.
Clement was among the many holiday shoppers braving crowds, cold and long lines on the first official shopping day of the Christmas season.
Whether a big screen television, a GPS system, toys, clothing or holiday decorations, the 2009 Black Friday sales brought shoppers out in droves.
“I’m very pleased with the turn-out so far this Black Friday weekend,” Jodie Galloway, marketing director at Port Arthur’s Central Mall, said. “It looks like it is going to be much better than what we hoped for.”
With an uncertain economy and unemployment looming this year, Galloway said mall officials had not known what to expect, but optimistically hoped Black Friday specials would lure customers.
“This year’s shoppers are trying to shop smart and get the most with their holiday dollars. The stores are acknowledging that and having great specials,” Galloway said.
Southeast Texas shoppers kept with national trends, buying popular items such as large screen televisions, laptop computers, GPS systems and cameras.
J.C. Penney’s and Sears opened the earliest Friday, at 4 a.m., while Target opened its doors an hour later.
Shopping together on Black Friday has become a tradition for mother and son bargain hunters, Gwen Delahoussaye, 56, and Ryan Delahoussaye, 17, both of Port Arthur.
With a buggy full of bargains in Target, Gwen Dalahoussaye said she looks for good buys on toys for her five grandchildren, and likes to have her son along to make sure she doesn’t overspend.
“Yeah, I could be “Mom Gone Wild” if he wasn’t here. That’s why I bring him along,” she said.
Across the highway, at Conn’s, pickup trucks pulled up to the front doors to load what store officials said was the most popular item selling Friday: big screen televisions.
Ryan Digiovanni, 23, of Sugar Land got out early Friday while in Groves visiting family.
Digiovanni said he had purchased a 52-inch television at Conn’s early in the day Friday, after standing in line.
“They opened at 6, and I stood in line for about an hour out in the cold and about froze,” he said. “It’s worth it though, to get a good deal.”
skoonce@panews.com
