BARGAIN BROWSERS: The day after Thanksgiving is...

BARGAIN BROWSERS: The day after Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year, and turnout at Southland shopping centers Friday exceeded last year’s totals by 2% to 3%. . . . But thriftiness was on the list, with discount stores and outlets a destination for many. Shoppers seemed to like the mix of elegance and economy at Camarillo Factory Stores, which has just added Barney’s and Saks outlets (B1). . . . “I love shopping, and this is the best outlet I’ve ever seen,” said Tammie Coronado of Pleasanton, who made a trip to Off 5th during a visit with relatives in the San Fernando Valley. “The stores are upscale.”

LOTTO FUN: No high-fives or dancing in the streets for Ojai’s Daniel Lattimore, who salivated for five weeks over the prospect of a $468,000 payday that finally came Friday. “I’m not really the demonstrative type,” said Ventura County’s newest millionaire, who cashed in for $13.2 million when he picked six numbers in the Super Lotto last month. “I grabbed the check, ran downtown and stuck it in the bank before it got lost.”

SOCK IT TO ‘EM: Nordhoff Coach Ken Reeves uses all kinds of gimmicks to motivate his cross-country team (C14). His kids wear different socks for postseason tourneys, and they switch uniforms and training regimens. . . . But that’s not the secret, he says. “I really think it’s a case where the kids have sold themselves on the program.” The Rangers compete today in the state championships in Fresno.

BURGER BURNOUT: The Hamburger Hamlet chain is closing a third of its eateries, including the Simi Valley outlet, and will file for Chapter 11 reorganization (D1). . . . A manager at the Simi restaurant said the news wasn’t surprising. “This particular location has never done a lot of business. . . . Actually, we were doing better than we had in a long time. Unfortunately, the company couldn’t wait.” . . . He said the restaurant’s 40 to 50 employees are being encouraged to apply at other Hamlets.