There will be places to shop even on Thanksgiving Day
By From staff reports
Published in News on November 21, 2012 1:46 PM
Now that many stores have embraced the Black Friday phenomenon, the true shopping strategy lies in scheduling -- where do I go first?
However, if you just need a stick of butter or if are you just looking for a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner prepared in someone else's kitchen, a handful of grocery stores and restaurants will be open Thanksgiving Day to ease the stress from turkey emergencies or will offer meals for those who don't care to turn on the oven.
Walmart will be open all day Thanksgiving Day, as the corporate giant closes its stores only on Christmas Day.
Food Lion locations throughout the area will be open from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. for those seeking to pick up last-minute ingredients.
To get a full meal, however, diners can head to McCall's, where the family restaurant will serve lunch from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m.
K&W Cafeteria at Berkeley Mall will offer its Thanksgiving-themed dinner special for $6.99 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. while Ruby Tuesday will be open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
If there's one big-ticket item you're after on Black Friday, then find a place in line and stick it out, but for the true shop-til-you-drop fanatics it comes down to knowing which stores open when.
This year's shopping season kicks off especially early, as some stores are ignoring Black Friday altogether by opening up on Thanksgiving Day.
Kmart's Thanksgiving Day hours will be from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m. before workers close and look to regroup before the store opens again at 5 a.m. on Black Friday.
Walmart will be open all day, but its Black Friday deals will kick off at 8 p.m., although the electronics deals won't be valid until 10 p.m.
Sears is also joining in on the Turkey Day fun this year, opening up at 8 p.m.
Target's Black Friday sales kick off at 9 p.m., three hours before Old Navy and Belk, which open up at midnight.
Both midnight stores are counting on giveaways to convince shoppers to burn the late-night oil, as Old Navy will give free copies of the New Super Mario Bros. U game to a limited number of customers who spend $40 in the store.
Belk will hand out gift cards to shoppers similar to last year, but instead of having just one $1,000 gift card in the region, as was the case in 2011, this year there will be a $1,000 gift card given out in every store.
Berkeley Mall, including JCPenney, will open at 6 a.m., with Santa Claus greeting children from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Santa will be at the mall weekdays and Saturdays through Dec. 24 during those hours, plus Sundays from 1 until 6 p.m.