WEST GOSHEN >> While shoppers were out for a better holiday deal Thursday, it was also a time to be with family at stores open for business on Thanksgiving.
Shoppers Louis and Marie Dominguez had shopped at Kmart for their family members. They purchased a toy car that a small child can ride in. Louis Dominguez said they will give it to his sister on Christmas. He found shoes for himself and clothes for his siblings. They plan to return to the stores on Friday to continue shopping for their family of six and two dogs.
Louis Dominguez said the fun part about shopping on the holiday is “spending time with my mom.”
Marie Dominguez, mother of Louis, said she likes to shop on the holidays and Black Friday because of the deals. She said she likes the discounts offered because she “saves money to buy more for the whole family.”
Kmart stores in Chester County had extended hours to be open all day Thursday and overnight through Black Friday.
Kmart, located in the West Goshen Center in West Goshen Township and the Whiteland Towne Center in West Whiteland Township, has regular hours of 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. However, the store was open on Thanksgiving Day from 6 – 12 a.m. and is open on Black Friday from 12 a.m. – 10 p.m. The store is open on Saturday with its regular hours.
(Readers and web users remember to join in the Black Friday shoppinf frenzy by using the hashtag #BlackFridayPHL)
A Kmart spokesperson noted that the store has been open on Thanksgiving for the past 24 years. The spokesperson noted that one reason why the store is open then is because it sells food. They said this helps people who need additional food or forgot to purchase specific items.
Shoppers also informed Kmart that they like to start holiday shopping early, including on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, according to the media contact.
Kmart has a tradition that the employees hand out a “Black Friday survival kit” at 7 p.m. to a select amount of shoppers. The kit includes water, headache medicine, granola bars and more.
In addition to shoppers, many people also went to the LA Fitness in the at the West Goshen Shopping Center. Dave Sherwood said he began a routine last year to exercise there in the morning on Thanksgiving.
“I’m going to eat a lot of junk food later so I’m trying to (counteract) it by coming here,” Sherwood said after he exited LA Fitness. “I have the day off and I work out every day. They’re open so I figured why not.”
He said he was not surprised at how many people were at the gym, similar to any other day.
Sherwood noted that he saw some of the same people at the gym that he usually sees daily when he exercises early in the morning. He said they are the “dedicated ones” who still worked out on the holiday, but that they came later in the morning on Thursday.
Sherwood, 26, of West Chester said he has dinner with his family in the late afternoon. He said he went Thanksgiving shopping last year after dinner because of the convenience. On his way to dinner or from dinner with family, he plans to shop at a store, such as Target.
“If it’s on the way, I’ll go,” Sherwood said. “I don’t go out of my way (to stop at a store).”
Shoppers Paul Trout, 58, of Norwood, and his wife, Fe Trout, 46, of the Philippines, went to do laundry on Thursday and ended up shopping at Kmart. They purchased an artificial Christmas tree.
Paul Trout said they both have off from work on Thursday but not Friday, so they decided to do errands. His other plans included watching the Eagles game. He said they will celebrate the holiday during the weekend at his mother’s house. He said they do that because more family will be able to attend then.
One shopper, who asked that their name be withheld, said that they take their children each year to shop at the stores while other family members cook dinner. He said they like to get their children out of the home and for something to do, they shop and each child can pick a treat out for themselves.
Other shoppers purchased food items for dinner, wrapping paper for gifts, clothes, toys and more. Half of the West Goshen Center parking lot at 923 Paoli Pike was full of vehicles on Thursday.
Kmart had seasonal help and full time employees work on Thanksgiving and on Black Friday. A request to the media spokesperson about how many employees would work at those two stores on those two days was not returned.
The Big Lots, located in the Whiteland Towne Center, was open for its regular store hours on Thursday from 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. A media spokesperson was unavailable for comment.
