Black Friday sees smaller crowds this year

Black Friday shopping in Poplar Bluff was much more subdued this year than in the past, with visibly smaller than normal crowds waiting in lines for stores to open.

“I think maybe it was a little lighter than usual with the pandemic,” Academy Sports+Outdoors Store director Gene Hux said of the early crowd. “I think most retail companies are expecting that.”

Prior to opening at 5 a.m., there were a few dozen shoppers waiting to get into the store.

Shoppers space themselves apart as they wait outside Poplar Bluff’s Menard’s store early Friday.DAR/Paul Davis

The smaller crowds, Hux said, can be partially attributed to an increase in online purchases as people try to avoid large gatherings.

“We’re seeing increased sales online, so we kind of expected this across the board,” said Hux.

“I was really surprised the crowds weren’t too bad,” said shopper Paula Jennewein, who traveled from Silva to Poplar Bluff early to look for bargains.

Paula Jennewein looks at sweatshirts on sale Friday morning at Academy Sports+Outdoors.DAR/Paul Davis

Jennewein said Black Friday shopping with her daughter has been a tradition, and she was “looking for things for my grandkids.”

To make shoppers feel safe, Hux said, his staff wore masks, and hand sanitizer was made available for anyone who wanted it.

“We encourage our customers to wear masks and social distance,” said Hux. “It’s really kind of in line with what everybody else is doing and trying to control things as best as possible. Unfortunately, it’s an unseen enemy everyone is dealing with.”

Amanda Clark (left) and Erin Smith look at several items early Friday at Envy Boutique in Poplar Bluff.DAR/Paul Davis

Not far away, at Menard’s, Destiny Green of Van Buren stood first in line as she waited for the store to open.

“We got here at 3:30 this morning,” she said.

Green said she wasn’t looking for anything specific and instead was simply “just shopping for the kids.”

Lindsey Lemonds peruses the clothing racks at Envy Boutique early Friday morning.DAR/Paul Davis

She didn’t have to wait long to get inside, either, as the store opened 45 minutes ahead of schedule.

“We scheduled to open at 6, but I looked out and saw the line and opened the door at 5:15, so that way people could start shopping and we could keep the crowd down,” said Menard’s General Manager Gary Dahl.

Menard’s Black Friday sale lasted for 10 days this year, Dahl said, instead of the usual six hours.

Sharon Parks shops for gifts for her grandchildren and her dogs Friday morning at Poplar Bluff’s Menard’s store.DAR/Paul Davis

“That definitely helped keep the crowd a little spread out, and all things considered, I think it was good,” he said.

“I came to get a few Christmas presents for my grandkids and my dogs,” said Sharon Parks, who was found perusing the aisles at Menard’s.

Parks admitted to doing a little online shopping, but still prefers the traditional way.

Gatlin Taylor picks out his favorite color hoodie while shopping early Friday at Poplar Bluff’s Academy Sports+Outdoors store.DAR/Paul Davis

“Everything is different this year. It’s not the same,” she said.

At Envy Boutique in the Raider Commons shopping center on Shelby Road, about 15 shoppers could be found looking for early bargains when the store opened at 6 a.m., and co-owner Erin Sanders was very pleased.

“We think it’s great, and our customers are loyal,” Sanders said.

To help spread customers out, Sanders said, staff “tried to space stuff the best we could and put things throughout the store so everybody wouldn’t go to one spot.”