Valdosta, GA - They are not homeless, but hundreds of people were lined up outside Best Buy off St. Augustine Road in Valdosta Thanksgiving night. Obviously it was all for the Black Friday sales.
So what does it take to be first? Tina and Brittinay Thornton have been there since Tuesday.
"This is mom and daughter. And this is the best bonding experience you can imagine," said Tina Thornton.
"It's like a camping trip inside a town i guess. You get to meet a lot of new people. It's something new and adventurous," said Brittinay Thornton.
Together Tina and Brittinay were first in line. This is their 10th year doing this together. And they have come to be sort of pros at it.
"One person, their child thought we lived in a tent always. That we're a tent family. I said no, this is what we're doing," Tina said.
Tina and Brittinay join countless others across the country racing for prizes like Smart Phones, video games and I-Pads. So what did they come for?
"Truly, I want a laptop," Tina said.
"The TV. Definitely. I need a new TV," Brittinay said.
Best Buy opens its doors at Midnight, but other chains are getting an early jump. Stores like "Toys R Us", "Old Navy" and "Walmart" are opening Thanksgiving night. Just watch out for the rush.
"Just like a stampede of cattle. That's the only way to describe it. Just like packing everybody in a can of sardines inside there," said Teddy Spikes, another early bird shopper.
For Tina and Brittinay, it doesn't matter if they're at a dinner table or in a parking lot, Thanksgiving is about time spent together.
See below for store hours for Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday.
- - - Opens Thanksgiving - - -
— Walmart is open all day but on Thanksgiving Day, it has three in-store sale events this year. Today, there is one at 8 p.m. and another at 10 p.m. and on Friday, Nov. 23 sales begin at 5 a.m.
— Toys R Us will open at 8 p.m. today, Thanksgiving Day, and will remain open until 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23.
— Rite Aid will open today, Thanksgiving Day, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and will have regular hours on Friday, Nov. 23, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
— Walgreens on North Ashley is open 24/7. Walgreens on the corner Baytree and Goronto Road will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. today, Thanksgiving Day, and will have regular hours on Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
— Sears will open at 8 p.m. today, Thanksgiving Day, and will open at 4 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23.
— Target will open at 9 p.m. today, and will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23.
— Big Lots will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. today, Thanksgiving Day, and will be open from 6 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday.
— Books-A-Million will be open today from noon until 9 p.m., and will be open Friday, from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.
- - - Opens Black Friday - - -
— Sam's Club will be open on Friday, Nov. 23, from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m.
— Best Buy will open at midnight today, Thanksgiving Day, going into Friday, Nov. 23, at will close at 10 p.m. Friday.
— JC Penney will open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23.
— Office Max will open at 6 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23.
— Kohl’s will open at midnight today, Thanksgiving, going into Friday, Nov. 23.
— Belk will open at midnight today going into Friday, Nov. 23.
— TJ Maxx will open at 7 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23, and Saturday, Nov. 24 and will remain open until 10 p.m. both days.
— Hobby Lobby will be open on Friday, Nov. 23, from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.
— Lowe’s will be open Friday, from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.
— Home Depot will be open Friday, at 5 a.m.
