Area stores are experiencing brisk sales for the official Black Friday launch of the holiday shopping season.
Store representatives said shoppers were well-behaved. The only reported problem was outside the Belk store on Highway 45 North before the store opened.
“We did have a little issue,” store manager Larry Armstrong said. He called police after reports of line jumping before the store’s 3 a.m. opening. “We haven’t had anything inside the store.”
Police said Shirley Bowers, 22, of San Antonio, was arrested for disorderly conduct at the store.
“She was being very belligerent and cursing,” Sgt. Glynn Culpepper with the CPD said. “She was using profane language and being very disruptive. … They were saying something about her trying to jump in line.”
Armstrong predicted a 20 percent increase over last year’s Black Friday sales in a Wednesday interview with The Dispatch. Armstrong said this morning that prediction came true.
The Starkville Police Department sent two cars to the Walmart for crowd control at the store’s 10 p.m. Thursday opening, Police Chief David Lindley said. “It was over in about 15 minutes.” The department has been busy all day, he added, but no other Black Friday problems were reported.
A woman who answered the phone at the Starkville Walmart said she was not aware of any problems at the store. She arrived at the store at 7 a.m.
“Fortunately, we have had no acts of violence,” said Columbus Radio Shack sales associated Caleb Dean. The store opened at 5:30 a.m. with a good crowd. While business had slowed about 8 a.m., it had been steady.
The Goody’s store in Starkville had a peaceful 6 a.m. opening. “Everybody has been in a good mood,” said store manager Monica Stewart. “Nobody’s pushing. No one’s shoving.”
The store sold out of TV projectors by 8:30 a.m., she said.
“So far, so good,” is how the store manager at the JC Penney in Leigh Mall described Black Friday. The store sold out of boots and luggage by 8:30 a.m., said Victoria Aurighemma. Big sellers included cookware, toys, outerwear and pillows. She speculated maybe shoppers were ready to go back to sleep. The store opened at 4 a.m.
“Things are going great so far,” TJ Maxx store manager Jimmy Gregory said. The store on Old Aberdeen Road opened at 7 a.m without incident.
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