Few people venture out early for Black Friday deals

Carl Laird wasn’t going to let fears over the pandemic stop him from his 19-year tradition of Black Friday shopping.

Shortly after 5 a.m., the 40-year-old from Rillton had already been to Dunham’s for gun ammunition and to Walmart for pajamas. But Laird was one of only a handful of people shopping at the North Huntingdon Walmart early Friday morning, a day typically filled with long lines of people waiting to get deals.

“This year it’s kind of dead,” said Jenna Fratangelo, 35, of Scottdale, who was shopping at Kohl’s in North Huntingdon with her 34-year-old sister Jamie.

The duo typically heads out Thanksgiving night, but with several stores closed Thursday, they continued their 10-year tradition shortly before 6 a.m.

Few people filter in and out of Kohl’s for Black Friday shopping. pic.twitter.com/13hg42c3ut

— Megan Tomasic (@MeganTomasic) November 27, 2020

At both stores, caution tape and stanchions were placed outside the entrances, ready for lines of people. At Walmart, songs like “Party Rock Anthem” played over the loudspeakers, trying to pump up a non-existent crowd.

According to a study from Visa, this holiday season only about 20% of shoppers in the United States will shop exclusively in-person. About 32% of people said they plan to shop mainly online, with 60% saying they will shop half or more online.

Jozlynn Dalton, 23, of North Huntingdon said she did not expect a lot of people to be shopping early Friday morning because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. She noted that several businesses had the same sales online as they did in stores, another avenue that would help lower the number of people shopping in person.

Dalton, who was shopping at Walmart with her fiance Ted Stoganoff, 23, said she began Black Friday shopping two years ago. She said she did have some concerns shopping during the pandemic, but said they are doing their part to keep themselves and others safe by social distancing and wearing face masks.

“This year’s definitely a lot different,” she said.

At Kohl’s, Judy Ungvarsky, 69, of Greensburg echoed similar sentiments about taking precautions. Ungvarsky was shopping with her daughter, a mother-daughter day that has become an annual outing for the duo.

“We missed one year because she didn’t live around here, and that was terrible,” Ungvarsky said, noting they always start the day early in the morning.

Chris Russ, 34, of North Huntingdon, who was heading into Walmart shortly after they opened at 5 a.m., said he goes Black Friday shopping every year.

“It’s just something to do,” Russ said. “Kind of something that feels normal in an unnormal year.”

At the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer, Dan Stewart pulled into a relatively empty Macy’s parking lot with his wife Elaine and daughter Jennifer. For the Stewart family, Black Friday was a tradition they weren’t forgoing.

“It’s a family thing,” Dan Steward said.

“It’s a tradition,” his wife added. “It’s what we always do.”

In Hempfield, Black Friday at Westmoreland Mall appeared to pick up after a slow start as the food court was mostly full by 9 a.m. and lines were beginning to form outside of a few stores.

But earlier in the morning, there were little or no lines outside of stores such as Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works. About 15 shoppers trickled into Old Navy as employees opened the doors. Then, there was plenty of space for social distancing on escalators as an announcement reminded shoppers that this year was unlike any other.

Bridget Wright of Rural Valley, Armstrong County, said she and her parents brought their masks, hand sanitizer and commitment to social distance from others while carrying on their Black Friday tradition.

“We want normalcy in our lives,” she said while sitting with bags of goods from Bath & Body Works and White Barn Candle Co. “2020 has been a horrible year.”

While it is a trek to get to Westmoreland Mall from Graceton, Indiana County, Wright’s mother Deborah Kislak said the deals are worth it.

“I like the buys we get,” she said.

Plus, there aren’t many other options close to their homes for shopping at a wide variety of stores. Both mother and daughter said the mall wasn’t too busy around 8 a.m.

“It’s like a normal shopping day,” Wright said.

Shirley Korsh of Haydentown, Fayette County, and her group of shoppers were trying to keep their experience as normal as possible despite the addition of masks and hand sanitizer this year. They gathered for a photograph wearing matching sweatshirts in front of the mall’s Christmas tree and headed into Old Navy. The group has been Black Friday shopping at the mall for the last 10 to 15 years.

“It’s not the same, for sure,” she said. “But we’re here, we’re playing it safe.”

Some shoppers said they enjoyed this year’s Black Friday experience, sans crowds and chaos.

Lynn Barch of Springdale was shopping at the Dick’s Sporting Goods store at Pittsburgh Mills, armed with a mask and hand sanitizer and relieved to see the store fairly empty. She said she assumed the crowds would be lighter this year, but never thought it would be as sparse as it was.

“It’s nice though. You’re not fighting through crowds and waiting to get in places. It’s less stressful,” she said.

Frank Lee of Tarentum was shopping for his kids at the Macy’s at the Pittsburgh Mills mall on Friday morning. He, too, said he was pleased to see all the sales with none of the crowds.

“I was in and out — exactly the way I like it,” he said.