Black Friday In Short Pump 2009: Videos & Wrap-Up Report

Plenty of shoppers were out to get Black Friday deals at retailers in Short Pump this year. We were out beginning at 5:00 a.m. to post photos and videos live from the area’s biggest retailers to see how the morning played out. And while the crowds were substantial, turnout, at least locally, was noticeably down […]

November 29, 2009; 2:02 PM • by Trevor Dickerson

Plenty of shoppers were out to get Black Friday deals at retailers in Short Pump this year. We were out beginning at 5:00 a.m. to post photos and videos live from the area’s biggest retailers to see how the morning played out. And while the crowds were substantial, turnout, at least locally, was noticeably down from last year.

Our first stop on our retail tour was hhgregg. The new store, which just opened around two weeks ago, had a checkout line that snaked around the store around 5:30 a.m., with the majority of those in line at the time of our visit purchasing flat panel televisions and laptop computers. Because hhgregg wasn’t in Richmond last year, it’s difficult to gauge turnout.

Best Buy, our next stop, was another story. The checkout line was easily double the length of hhgregg’s around 6:00 a.m., even with double the checkout lanes of its smaller competitor. Still, the store appeared less crowded than the same time of day on Black Friday in 2008.

Neighboring retailers Target and Kohl’s seemed almost as crowded as last year. Those in line were overwhelmingly purchasing small consumer electronics and clothing.

Around 750 people turned out to get in line at Guest Services at Short Pump Town Center, hoping to receive a “Black Friday Survival Tote.” When we got in line around 7:15 there were about 125 people waiting. The bags included hundreds of dollars in coupons and gift cards. A total of $5,000 in mall gift cards were given away. A video of its contents can be seen below.

Traffic around the area could be compared to a typical Saturday afternoon volume-wise. The ring round around Short Pump Town Center was stop and go, but all things considered, traffic was down from 2008.

Our mobile videos from all of the aforementioned retailers can be seen below.

hhgregg – 5:30 a.m.

Traffic conditions – 6:15 a.m.

Target – 6:30 a.m.

Short Pump Town Center – 7:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

November 29, 2009 2:02 PM 0