UNDATED (WKZO-AM) — Retailers say they’re expecting a banner Black Friday to extend into a strong shopping weekend.
“Forty percent of shoppers will be visiting the stores on Black Friday, and 70 percent over the Black Friday weekend,” Stephen Lebovitz, the president of one of the nation’s largest managers of malls and shopping centers, said earlier this week.
Lebovitz said people have more disposable income because of cheap gas and higher employment.
“The average shopper will spend $700 this year, compared to $675 last year,” Lebovitz said.
Many of the big box stores in the Kalamazoo-area not open 24 hours will open for Black Friday at 5 a.m. A few opened on a limited schedule for Thanksgiving.
Meijer and Home Depot will begin offering Black Friday deals at 6 a.m. Costco is slated to open at 9 a.m.
– Anthony Pollreisz
