Fayetteville Black Friday 2021: Most stores closed Thanksgiving, but shoppers ready for Friday
With online sales and a holiday shopping season that has started earlier than ever, Black Friday is no longer a one-day event.
But that doesn't mean shoppers hungry for a deal are going to stay home this Friday. According to a survey released in October by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics, 64% of Black Friday shoppers said they'll shop in stores this year, up from 51% last year, as concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic kept many shoppers home in 2020.
Shoppers looking to avoid the crowds or looking to lock down an in-demand gift are shopping earlier than ever. Stores like Best Buy, Walmart, Belk and Target, ready to appease the early shoppers, have already started offering their Black Friday deals.
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According to the National Retail Federation, 49% of shoppers surveyed said they started their gift shopping before November this year, a jump from 42% of shoppers a year ago.
“We’re expecting another record-breaking holiday season this year and Thanksgiving weekend will play a major role as it always has,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said in a news release.
In Fayetteville, stores like Walmart, Academy Sports, Kohl's and Best Buy will open their doors at 5 a.m. Cross Creek Mall will open at 7 a.m., though anchor stores with their own exterior entrances, such as Macy's and JCPenney, may open earlier.
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Shoppers can also visit with Santa Claus, who will be located in the mall's food court. Santa will be at the mall on Black Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 2 to 5 p.m.
"We're prepared for people to come out and shop," said Jessica Kirkman, a mall spokesperson.
Kirkman said that as more shoppers return to in-person shopping this year, shoppers should be prepared for lines and large groups of people. The mall will continue to enforce COVID-19 safety protocols, including Cumberland County's mask mandate.
"We want it to be fun, but we want it to be safe," she said.
Perhaps the biggest change shoppers will see are stores closed on Thanksgiving. In recent years, the Black Friday shopping surge had been slowly seeping into Thanksgiving Day, but many retail giants, such as Walmart and Target, opted to close their locations for the holiday last year due to pandemic-related safety concerns. Most other retailers followed suit.
Cross Creek Mall was closed last Thanksgiving and will be closed this Thursday, as well. While Kirkman said she can't confirm what the mall's plans are for future years, she said the current trend is for malls and stores to be closed on Thanksgiving.
"People are really trying to keep Thanksgiving as a time to be with your family," she said.
Here's a look at the shopping hours for major retailers in Fayetteville this Thanksgiving weekend:
Barnes & Noble
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Belk
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Best Buy
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Big Lots
Thanksgiving: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
BJ's Wholesale Club
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Burlington
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to midnight
Christmas Tree Shops
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Dick's Sporting Goods
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
DSW
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Dunham's Sports
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Five Below
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Gamestop
Thanksgiving: 5 to 9 p.m.
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Guitar Center
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
H&M
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hobby Lobby
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Home Depot
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
HomeGoods
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
JCPenney
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Joann Fabric and Crafts
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Kohl's:
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 5 a.m. to midnight.
Lowe's
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Macy's
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Marshall's
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mattress Firm
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Michael's
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Office Depot
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Old Navy
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Petco
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
PetSmart
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sam's Club
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Target
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
T.J.Maxx
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tractor Supply Co.
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ulta Beauty
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Walmart
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
World Market
Thanksgiving: Closed
Black Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Jacob Pucci writes on food, restaurants and business. Contact him by email at jpucci@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @jacobpucci or on Facebook. Like talking food? Join our Fayetteville Foodies Facebook group.
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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Black Friday 2021 Fayetteville guide to after Thanksgiving shopping
