Shoppers crowd stores for Black Friday

ATLANTA,None — With Black Friday kicking off the holiday shopping season, metro Atlantans turned out in droves at retail stores across the area. Despite the financial downturn, economists said they expect an uptick in sales.

At the Best Buy on Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth, about 1,600 people came through the doors within the first two hours of opening, according to the store manager.

“Monday morning, we started seeing customers lining up. So, when we locked up Tuesday, there was already campers outside," Best Buy general manager Nataly Echeverria told Channel 2’s Sophia Choi.

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About 152 million Americans are expected to go shopping for Black Friday sales, according to the National Retail Federation. The International Council of Shopping Centers said 34 percent of all consumers plan to shop this Black Friday  --  3 percent more than last year.

“I'm spending a lot of money today,” shopper Timmy Kolawole said. “$1,000. $2,000.”

Channel 2’s Darryn Moore went to a Target store on Cobb Parkway in Cobb County, where some shoppers said they waited for five hours until the store opened at midnight.

“It’s worth the wait,” one shopper told Moore.

“I think it’s a good indication for us,” manager Steve Fortier said.

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