SANFORD — As Brian Peters stood outside Ocean State Job Lot at 5:45 a.m., waiting for the 6 a.m. opening, he knew exactly what he was looking for.
A stereo that regularly retailed for $1,000, according to the store’s flyer, was on sale for much less.
“It’s $250,” said Peters, who was among about 15 to 20 shoppers lined up outside for the store’s 6 a.m. Grand Opening. Rhode Island-based Ocean State Job Lot opened earlier this week in the former Walmart store on Sanford’s Main Street, near Central Tire.
At Vic’s Appliance on Main Street in Saco, Don Fleurant, who owns the 46-year-old store with his brother Ralph, said Black Friday business was off to a very brisk start.
The store opened at its regular time of 8 a.m.
“We had people standing at the door,” waiting for the doors to open, said Fleurant at 8:30 a.m. “It’s pretty wild. It’s absolutely awesome.”
What were people buying?
“Everything,” said Fleurant. “Washers, dryers, dishwashers.”
Thursday was Thanksgiving, where families gathered together to eat turkey, perhaps watch a football game, and visit with each other.
Black Friday, however, is a day for Christmas shopping ”“ and bargains.
At Alphie’s, also on Main Street in Saco, Troy Nadeau opened at 8 a.m. and will stay open until 8 p.m. tonight. Nadeau said he’s been holding extended hours for all of November ”“ Alphie’s usually opens at 10 a.m.
“It looks like there’s traffic in the street,” said Nadeau in a telephone interview at about 8:15 a.m. Typically however, he said, his store gets busier during the afternoon on Black Friday.
At Olympia Sports in Sanford’s Center for Shopping, a handful of shoppers were inside at about 6:30 a.m., one and one-half hours after opening. One woman clutched a half-dozen sweatshirts. A worker said a few shoppers had taken advantage of the early opening hours.
Sanford’s downtown retailers were undoubtedly also looking for a brisk business day, but chose to skip early openings.
About 15 miles away at Biddeford Crossing, national retailers were scheduled to open early ”“ Target advertised a 5 a.m. opening and just across the way, Kohl’s opened at 4 a.m.
The Maine Mall in South Portland was set to open at 6 a.m., rather than just after midnight as it has done in the past.
The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, called “Black Friday” because it’s key for many businesses to go in the black, or turn a profit.
Retailers in Freeport and Kittery planned to continue their super-early openings.
Back at Ocean State Job Lot, regional manager Dan Reed said the store, which employs 50 full and part-time workers, opened a week ago, though the official grand opening was this morning.
The Sanford store, which specializes in close-outs and overstocks, marks their fourth in Maine, after Bangor, Belfast and Oxford, and their 92nd store in a territory that stretches from New York state to Maine.
At the run-up to 6 a.m., employees were tidying aisles and cashiers were readying their check-out stations.
“The customers seem friendly and so far, (business) has exceeded expectations,” Reed said. “We’re very happy to be here.”
— The Associated Press contributed to this report. Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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