Black Friday Notebook: Crowdless at the Grove
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Kristen Barnes, 49, has set a maximum Christmas shopping budget of $6,000, most of which she plans to spend online.
But on Black Friday, Barnes, the director of a nonprofit organization in Bakersfield, strolled out of the Nordstrom store at the Grove laden with wallets, purses and iPad cases for her nieces and nephews.
Around her, mothers leisurely pushed strollers through the picturesque shopping center as teenagers roamed. Shoppers inside casually sorted through jeans and shoes, taking their time browsing the jewelry cases
Stores like the Gap, which was offering all of its merchandise half off until 10 a.m., were packed. All around the Grove, buyers were scoping out bargains, hoping to pick up more goods than they did in tighter years.
“They’re definitely expressing frugal fatigue and taking advantage of the deals that retailers are offering,” said retail analyst Marshal Cohen. “The stores have gotten better at recognizing the science of Black Friday and doorbuster specials. Theyr’e using the Internet, they’re using different hours, they’re rolling out some merchandise now and some tomorrow and some next week.”
Though Claudia Johnson, 62, has been unemployed for three years, her husband’s commercial real estate business has picked up. The Los Angeles resident also has a new granddaughter for whom she spent $125 on gifts such as a Christmas dress and a pair of silver baby shoes.
‘I don’t really have a budget,” she said. “I just sort of do it, and then I pull everything out and look at it, and I might take things back.”
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