Merchants happy to greet holiday rush

[ Originally published on: Saturday, November 28, 2009 ]

Recorder/Paul Franz

Barry Wohl of Canada shops with sisters Dara and Leah Cohen of Amherst in the candy shop at Yankee Candle in South (Deerfield on Black Friday.

It's the day that retailers and bargain hunters wait for all year: 'Black Friday,' the day after Thanksgiving when businesses hope to go from operating at a loss, 'in the red,' and begin to see a profit and operate 'in the black.'

Some national chains opened stores at midnight after Thanksgiving to lure shoppers. In Greenfield, Wilson's Department Store didn't go that far, but did open its doors an hour early for shoppers looking to get a head start on their holiday lists.

Tamara Beauregard, vice president of Wilson's, said that people were waiting outside at both entrances, ready to go, when the store did open.

Beauregard said that traffic remained 'steady and busy' throughout the day with many people buying more practical gifts -- gloves, pajamas, scarves and the like.

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