Shoppers respond to holiday store hours

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Black Friday is just over a week away and some people are already planning to score big bargains ahead of schedule.

Target, Toys R Us, Sears and Walmart have something in common. The retailers will open their doors on Thanksgiving.

“We have over a thousand door buster deals,” Dan MacDonald said, manager at Sears in Castleton. “It is about making things more accessible for the customer. Some people want to have something to do after their turkey dinner.”

Some customers like the idea of accessibility, but others say the hunt for bargains can wait.

“I won’t be shopping on Thanksgiving. That is a family day,” Janet Michel said.

Others shoppers agreed.

“I think they should not open on Thanksgiving. It is a time for families to be together and also employees that have to work should be able to be home with their family,” said Michelle Vanderblaats.

Employees like Mackenzie Allen who manages Toys R Us in Castleton are eager to start the season early.

She says her team is ready also.

“We are a team and we create a team environment so everybody is really excited to start the kick off,” Allen said.

Allen said her store will have “loads of deals.”

While some will avoid the check out line on Thanksgiving, they will hunt for bargains around midnight.

“I’ll shop this year on Black Friday,” Janet Michel said. “I enjoy the sales and the ambiance of the season.

Both Allen and MacDonald will be around to help. MacDonald says, “It's kind of like the Superbowl of shopping!”