Shoppers turn out in SW Valley despite economy

Parking lots were filled as Southwest Valley stores opened their doors early Friday for another day of shopping mayhem - a scene that struggling retailers hope to see through the holiday season.

Some shoppers at Target in Goodyear waited in line for more than four hours on Black Friday, but most seemed to stroll in about an hour before doors opened.

"We hit J.C. Penney's first, but their line was way too long," said Rayann Doud, of Tonopah. "So we came here because this is our longest list."

Doud sat on a brick wall with her nephew and shopping partner, David Mora, 17. Both said the weather was too cold.

"I almost wasn't going to come because the ads weren't as good as the past," Doud said. "I definitely would not have come if it rained."

Although the temperature hovered below 50 degrees, hundreds of people stood in line with coffee in hand.

"Black Friday has gotten to be kind of a good tradition over the past 10 years for my family," said Doug Temple, 52, of Tolleson. "We usually have a plan and go through the sales ads after Thanksgiving dinner."

Many early morning shoppers made lists and came in pairs. Temple said it's easier to shop if prepared.

As the last early birds entered the store, the first customer walked out. It took about five minutes for everyone waiting outside Target to file into the store.

Many shoppers came from stores that opened earlier, while others said Target was the first destination.

No matter what time people start shopping, the Friday after Thanksgiving is known as one of the busiest of the year for retailers. It's considered the traditional start of the holiday shopping season.

"It was 5:52 a.m. when I pulled into the parking lot and went, 'oh my God,'" said Sondra King, 30, referring to the line that wrapped around the side of the building. "Next year I hope we can make it earlier if the tryptophan from the turkey wears off in time."

Southwest Valley communities such as Avondale and Goodyear are trying to persuade their residents to shop within their cities because sales-tax revenues help fund municipal services. With many national chains from Circuit City to Mervyn's going out of business, cities are counting on every sales-tax dollar spent locally through the holidays.

People wait outside La Curacao store at Desert Sky Mall on Friday.