The shopping frenzy that’s become the post-Thanksgiving tradition in America doesn’t have much effect on retailers Downtown.
Jennifer O’Donnell, manager of Chamblin’s Uptown, said there are never shoppers in line waiting for the bookstore and café to open Friday morning after Thanksgiving. She expects shoppers to arrive later in the day.
“People have been calling all morning to make sure we’re open. They come here to shop after they fight the crowds at the malls,” she said Friday morning.
It also was a quiet day at the Jacksonville Landing, but that changed before dark.
Workers in the morning were putting the final touches on preparations for the 29th annual Christmas on the River Tree Lighting Ceremony. It was followed Saturday by the Community First Jacksonville Light Boat Parade. The two events bring thousands of people to the banks of the St. Johns River Downtown.
A few customers were buying gifts at Jacobs Jewelers, but owners Roy and Deloris Thomas don’t expect crowds of shoppers on the Friday after Thanksgiving because their business plan doesn’t depend on sale prices to attract customers.
Instead, they devote the day to decorating the store, including the Christmas tree that’s always just inside the front door.
“Black Friday is just another day,” said Roy Thomas. “We don’t mark it up so we can mark it down. We price our merchandise to be a value all the time. That’s worked for Jacobs since 1890.”
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