photo by: Shelley Hanson

A long line of shoppers eagerly waits to enter Target at The Highlands when the store opened at 6 a.m. for Black Friday shoppers.

TRIADELPHIA — Shoppers at The Highlands braved frigid temperatures while waiting for stores like Target, Bass Pro Shops, Menards and more to open their doors on Black Friday.

At Target, hundreds of people bundled in heavy coats, hats, gloves and even blankets lined the front of the store waiting to get in and for a chance to receive a “swag bag” with coupons for prizes and deals.

Kelly Kinder of Cambridge brought her daughter, 10-year-old Allie Kinder, to shop with their first stop at Target. She said her daughter heard her talk about Black Friday shopping in the past and wanted to see what it was like.

They were the first people in line; the store opened at 6 a.m.

“She wanted the experience; the Black Friday experience and we’ll probably grab a thing or two,” Kinder said.

Allie said though it was cold waiting in line outside, it had been a fun experience.

“I woke up this morning at 1 a.m.,” she said, adding she hoped to get a karaoke machine and clothing for Christmas.

Kinder quipped that “quiet” topped her own Christmas wish list.

Also at Target was Barnesville resident Stephanie Imada who was bundled in winter gear topped with a fuzzy blanket. Imada, a native of Maui, Hawaii, who attended college in Belmont County, said she was hoping to get a good “swag bag.” She arrived at 2 a.m. and got in line at 3 a.m. She said some of the items she could potentially get in the bag were a $100 gift card, Beats headphones or a Ninja slushie maker.

It was her first time Black Friday shopping.

“I saw the Black Friday ad and thought, I’ll take a chance and see how it goes,” Imada said.

With temperatures just in the 20s, Imada said during the night her feet were starting to get numb, so she started pacing to warm them up. Turning away from the wind while it was blowing also helped.

Friends Aubrey Taylor of McMechen, Lily Och of Bethlehem, Leah Johnson of Yorkville, Kayla Wise of McMechen and Jewel Garrison of Bethlehem were also waiting to get into Target. The group arrived about 2 a.m. To help keep warm they formed a tent of sorts with their blankets and stayed close together. They also were hoping for good “swag bags” for their efforts.

photo by: Shelley Hanson

Menards Manager John Spiker hands a sales flyer to shopper Daryl Krugh of Washington, Pennsylvania, on Black Friday. The store opened at 6 a.m.

Just down the road at Menards, Manager John Spiker said his store had many shoppers waiting to get inside at 6 a.m.

“There were a good amount of people. I opened the store five minutes early so they didn’t have to stand out in the cold and wait,” he said.

Spiker said some of the store’s sought-after items included a gun safe, a stand-up freezer, dish washers, tools, toys and clothing such as warm sweat shirts and sweat pants. Black Friday deals, he noted, continue through the weekend. Spiker was at the front of the store greeting customers and handing out sales flyers. One shopper, Daryl Krugh of Washington, Pa., said he was looking to purchase pet items and Christmas lights.

At the Bass Pro Shop doors opened at 5 a.m. General Sales Manager Isaac Knight said people started lining up at 11 p.m. the night before to get in line early.

“We had 700 people waiting to get in,” he said.

Some popular sale items included firearms, sherpa-lined clothing and more. He noted Santa Claus would be at the store daily through Christmas.

“We really appreciate everyone coming in,” he said.

The Friday after Thanksgiving in the business world is often referred to as “Black Friday” because it is when retailers’ sales are typically abundant, making their bottom lines solvent before year’s end. Their accounting book’s ink is “in the black” instead of “in the red,” or in debt.