Black (Thursday) Friday shopping madness brought bargain hunters out early as retailers jump-started the all-important holiday season by opening their doors on Thanksgiving night, 2012.
Tim Lazzara, left, and his fiance Natalie Bronge pack their car after buying toys for children in their families, at a Toys R Us in Downers Grove. — Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 2012
Cousins Karen Reyes, 17, left, and Juana Reyes, 10, of Chicago sleep on massage therapy chairs after a long night of shopping at Yorktown Center Mall. They had been there since midnight shopping with an older relative. — Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 2012
Opening up gift bags from a giveaway at 5 a.m., Marilyn Prince, left, celebrates her 16th birthday with her friends at the Yorktown Center Mall — Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 2012
Store manager Julie Walker gives out gift cards to early morning bargain hunters at the 5 a.m. opening of Sports Authority at Yorktown Center Mall. — Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 2012
Shoppers wait in line for the 5 a.m. opeing at Yorktown Center Mall. — Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 2012
Shoppers lined up for a 5 a.m. opening of Sports Authority huddle in the cold outside Yorktown Center Mall. — Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 2012
Karla Serrano of Chicago sips a hot drink as she joins a line for the 5 a.m. opening of Sports Authority at Yorktown Center Mall. — Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 2012
Best Buy customers in Aurora, Ill., scramble for televisions after the store let in shoppers earlier than the scheduled midnight opening of the store's Black Friday sales event. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Best Buy shoppers wait for it to turn midnight so that they can check out after the store let in customers earlier than the scheduled opening for Black Friday in Aurora. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Best Buy shoppers in Aurora, Ill., look through discount DVDs after the store let in customers earlier than the scheduled midnight opening. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Best Buy's Rich Ferraro directs customers to a check out line after the store let in customers earlier than the scheduled midnight opening for Black Friday in Aurora. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Mario Kassa, of Aurora, tries to stay warm as he waits in line on Thanksgiving night for the Best Buy in Aurora to open at midnight. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Shoppers wait in line at Best Buy in Aurora, Ill., for a midnight opening to kick off Black Friday. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Terri Schroeder, of Chicago, is thrilled with scoring two televisions as her children, Ryan, 6, and Katie, 9, look on at Sears in Woodfield Mall shortly after the store's 8 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving in Schaumburg. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Nimita Kansagara, of Streamwood, is the first customer through the door at Sears in Woodfield Mall after its 8 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving in Schaumburg. Kansagara arrived at 2 p.m. to buy a television. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Children peer into Sears at Woodfield Mall as they await the store's 8 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving in Schaumburg. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Nethra Vinayagaram, 20 months, sleeps as her parents wait in line at Sears in Woodfield Mall for an 8 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving in Schaumburg. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Gaurang Patel, of Des Plaines, waits in line at Sears in Woodfield Mall for an 8 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Nimita Kansagara, of Streamwood, waits in line at Sears in Woodfield Mall for an 8 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving in Schaumburg. Kansagara arrived at 2 p.m. to buy a television. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
Bargain hunters wait in line at Sears in Woodfield Mall for an 8 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving in Schaumburg. — Scott Strazzante, Chicago Tribune, Nov. 22, 2012
