BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The year is 2024 and thousands of shoppers still head to the Mall of America for the morning of Black Friday.
According to the Bloomington mega mall, 13,000 people came through its doors within an hour of opening.
The figure didn't quite break records—at least 15,000 people showed up to shop in 2011—but it did surpass last year's figure of early morning shoppers, which was 12,000.
Retailers will be even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.
This year, the mall gave the first 200 people in line at the center's north entrance a $25 gift card.
“People come to get the deals, but more importantly, they come for the excitement, the energy, the traditions surrounding Black Friday,” Jill Renslow, Mall of America's chief business development and marketing officer, said.
So far this holiday season, online sales have beaten expectations, according to Adobe Digital Insights, a division of software company Adobe. U.S. consumers spent $77.4 billion online from Nov. 1 to Nov. 24, 9.6% more than during the same period last year. Adobe predicted an 8.4% increase for the full season.
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