Detroit area set for Black Friday blitz: 'It's the year of the TV'
Sarah RahalCorrection: A previous version of this story had previous Black Friday incorrect hours for Dunham Sports.
This Black Friday, it's all about tech.
The annual two-day shopping frenzy starts on Thanksgiving, and customers can expect the usual long lines and scavenging for parking. This year, retailers are focused on deals in electronics, gaming and appliances.
"It's the year of the TV," said Matthew Craig, regional vice president of Meijer, which is preparing to sell hundreds of televisions during doorbuster promotions, including a 75-inch Samsung smart TV for $179.
"Tech is going to be a driver this year, especially since tech became a toy, so we'll definitely see customers out to get the new tech, and we'll be ready," he said.
Some big-box stores like Meijer are open 24 hours throughout Thursday and Friday and to do so, they plan for months.
"We do walkthroughs starting in October to get the leadership team ready, daily huddles and make sure we are safe and in stock for this busy time," Craig said. "We have a passion to compete, and the only way to do that is to keep communication."
Among the Meijer deals: PS4s starting at $199, and Nintendo Switch bundles for $299 — the same as Walmart. Apple Airpods are $50 off and outerwear is 50% off.
Stores like Best Buy and Target are also focusing on discounted games, laptops, cameras and gadgets.
Other hot items this year are the new iPhone 11, Samsung Galaxy S10, Beats wireless headphones, iRobot Roombas, and Ring security doorbells.
Shavon Samuels brought her 2-year-old daughter Lauryn with her to Meijer on Eight Mile in Detroit on Friday to scope out a list of potential presents, a week ahead of deals.
Samuels, who says she is out as early as 2 a.m. with her sisters shopping on Black Friday, likes to get pictures of ahead of time to "see some things that my kids might be interested in so I can come back and get them."
Not everybody appreciates the frenzy, however.
Renee Perkins, who was shopping at Fairlane Town Center in Dearborn on Tuesday, said she hasn't been Black Friday shopping since she last worked the holiday at Walmart in 2013.
"It's very overrated," said Perkins, 30, from Detroit. "I'm shopping for my two kids and one on the way and prices are lower before Black Friday. People are waiting in unnecessary lines. The same TVs people are waiting to get for $200 are $200 right now."
Brandon Green, who purchased gym shoes Tuesday at Jimmy Jazz in Dearborn, said he likes to shop before and after the Black Friday hysteria has ended.
"Things that I shop for, electronics, basketball shoes, often have better deals after this week," said Green, 37.
For the diehards who still like their Black Friday deals, stores are opening as early as 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. A sampling of popular stops is below.
Mall Hours
Note that department store hours vary.
Fairlane Town Center: Closed on Thanksgiving. Open 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. Black Friday
Westland Center: Closed on Thanksgiving; open 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Black Friday
Southland Center: Open 6 p.m. - midnight on Thanksgiving; open 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Black Friday
Macomb Mall: Closed on Thanksgiving; open 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Black Friday
Lakeside Mall: Open 6 p.m. - midnight on Thanksgiving; open 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Black Friday
Twelve Oaks Mall: Open 6 p.m. - midnight on Thanksgiving; open 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Black Friday
Oakland Mall: Closed on Thanksgiving; open 6 a.m.- 10 p.m. on Black Friday
Great Lakes Crossing: Open 6 p.m. - midnight on Thanksgiving; open 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Black Friday
Birch Run Outlets: Open 6 p.m. through 10 p.m. on Black Friday
Tanger Outlets: Open 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving - 10 p.m. on Black Friday
Briarwood Mall: Open 6 p.m. - 1 a.m. on Thanksgiving; open 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Black Friday
Somerset Collection: Closed on Thanksgiving; open 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Black Friday
Partridge Creek: Closed on Thanksgiving; open 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Black Friday
Stores open on Thanksgiving
Bass Pro Shops: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Thursday; 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. Black Friday
Bed Bath & Beyond: 5 p.m. - midnight Thursday; 6 a.m. Friday, doorbusters until noon.
Best Buy: 5 p.m. - 1 a.m. on Thanksgiving; 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Black Friday
Big Lots: 7 a.m. - midnight
Carson's: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Black Friday
Dollar General: 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Dick's Sporting Goods: 6 p.m. through 2 a.m. Thursday; 5 a.m. Friday
Dunham Sports: 5 a.m. - 10 p.m. Black Friday
Gamestop: 3 p.m. -10 p.m. Thursday; 7 a.m.- 9 p.m. Black Friday
Five Below: 6 p.m. - 1 a.m. on Thursday; 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Black Friday
J. C. Penney: 2 p.m. through Black Friday
Kohl's: 5 p.m - midnight Black Friday; doorbusters until 1 p.m.
Kmart: 6 a.m. - midnight Thursday; 6 a.m. - 10 p.m Black Friday
Macy's: 5 p.m. -2 a.m. Thursday, re-opens 6 a.m. Friday
Meijer: Open 24 hours Thursday through Sunday
Michael's: 6 p.m. - midnight; opens an hour earlier (5 p.m.) for rewards members
Old Navy: 5 p.m. Thursday - 11 p.m. Friday
Sears: 6 p.m. - 2 a.m. Thursday; opens 6 a.m. Black Friday
Target: 5 p.m. - 1 a.m.; Reopens 7 a.m. Black Friday
Walmart: Open 24-hours Thursday - Friday
Ulta: 6 a.m. - midnight; Reopens 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Black Friday
Stores closed on Thanksgiving, open Friday
Barnes & Noble: 7-10 p.m.
BJ's Wholesale Club: 7 a.m.- 11 p.m.
Costco: 9 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Dillard's: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Hobby Lobby: 8 a.m. -10 p.m.
Home Depot: 6 a.m.- 11 p.m.
HomeGoods: 7 a.m.- 11 p.m.
Lowe's: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Marshalls: 7 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Sam's Club: 7 a.m. -9 p.m.
T.J. Maxx: 7 a.m.- 9 p.m.
srahal@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @SarahRahal_