By Cathy Spaulding
Best take advantage of that post-feasting nap on Thanksgiving Day because once Friday morning rolls around — rise and shine — somebody in the house will want to be up before sunrise to go shopping.
Muskogee area merchants will be more than happy to welcome early birds with hot prices and hot coffee.
“I always look forward to this,” said Tanya Staggs, manager of Muskogee’s Office Depot, which will open at 6 a.m. Friday. “We always have good customers and a good crowd. People are in a good mood to kick off the holiday season. People are just looking for bargains.”
Office Depot is one of several Muskogee businesses that open at 6 a.m. Though some places will let people show up earlier.
Staples office supply will serve coffee and fresh Krispy Kreme doughnuts, starting one hour before the store opens at 6 a.m.
“I’m going to the Krispy Kreme in Tulsa, on 71st Street at 4 a.m. just to get the doughnuts,” Staples manager Bill Graves said. “We enjoy doing this, it’s like giving back to our customers.”
Staggs said she will let people in early to get their special bargain coupons before they start buying at 6.
“They can get their warm clothes at JCPenney, then come over here and wait,” she said.
JCPenney, just across the Arrowhead Mall parking lot from Office Depot, opens at 4 a.m. The sun isn’t even expected to rise until around 7 a.m.
JCPenney manager Brandace Moore said store employees will be waiting, even in the hair salon.
“Someone will be here to sell products,” she said, adding people won’t be getting their hair cut that early.
“We’ll have a lot of help here. We have about 100 employees working,” Moore said. “We’ll have our doorbusters at 4 a.m. and Instant Money coupons that afternoon. Early bargains include a six-quart slow-cooker at $12.88 after a $10 rebate, and boots starting at $24.99.”
Sears, located at the east end of the mall, also will open with doorbusters at 4 a.m.
The Sears store also will get a new neighbor at 11 a.m. Friday when Santa Claus comes and starts seeing kids.
“The Santa pictures start at 11 a.m., and the train will run,” Arrowhead Mall Manager Scott Stephenson said. “We’ll be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.”
Debbie Greer of Wagoner, who was shopping extra early at Hobby Lobby on Wednesday, said she likes coming to Muskogee to shop and does not mind the Black Friday crowds.
“If I’m in town, I like to get things,” she said.
Walmart Manager Mike Ebert said he expects people to start lining up inside the store several hours before various items go on sale at 5 a.m. Like other area SuperCenters, Muskogee’s Walmart is open 24 hours.
Ebert said people start lining up at the various sales locations around 2:30 a.m.
“But we have a lot of people looking around,” he said.
Popular items with deep discounts are flat screen TVs, video games, toys and laptop computers.
Stores open on Thanksgiving
• Walmart SuperCenters, open 24 hours, 1000 W. Shawnee Bypass, Muskogee; 131 Paul Carr Drive, Checotah; 410 S. Dewey Ave., Wagoner; 2020 S. Muskogee, Tahlequah.
• Kmart, 4 E. Shawnee Bypass, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Big Lots, Curt’s Center, East Shawnee Bypass, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Hastings Book Music and Video, Curt’s Center, East Shawnee Bypass, 1 to 7 p.m.
• Dollar General Stores, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Walgreen’s, 2330 Chandler Road and 100 N. 32nd St., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Special hours
on Friday
• JCPenney, Arrowhead Mall, 4 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sears, Arrowhead Mall, 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Walmart SuperCenters, 1000 W. Shawnee Bypass, special prices start at 5 a.m.
• Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, 2901 Old Shawnee Road, Muskogee, opens, 6 a.m.
• Kmart, 4 E. Shawnee Bypass, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Ross Dress for Less, 904 W. Shawnee Bypass, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Office Depot, 201 W. Martin Luther King St., 6 a.m.
• Big Lots, East Shawnee Bypass, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Staples, 2911 E. Shawnee Bypass, open 6 a.m.
• Stage, Arrowhead Mall, 7 a.m.
• Arrowhead Mall entrances, 501 N. Main St., 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Santa comes at 11 a.m.
• Hobby Lobby, Curt’s Center, East Shawnee Bypass, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Hastings, Curt’s Center, East Shawnee Bypass, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Hancock Fabrics, Curt’s Center, East Shawnee Bypass, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email
