Black Friday Gets Off to a Roaring Start
Fist fights, arguments over towels and more.
— -- The crowds at major retailers around the country today proved Americans are still willing to wake up early to score a Black Friday deal, but it didn't come without chaos.
With major retailers including Walmart, Target and Macy's opening on Thanksgiving, some eager shoppers were able to get a jump start on their holiday to-do lists. The Black Friday frenzy was in full force at Macy's flagship Herald Square location in New York City where an estimated 15,000 people poured into the store for the 6 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving.
Of course it wouldn't be Black Friday without the madness. Video posted by Twitter user Young Rob shows what appears to be a fight in a crowded shopping mall with one man pinning the other on the ground as they traded punches.
It was unclear what prompted the apparent fight, however Melissa Marsh, who said she was at a Walmart in New Roads, Louisiana, captured the chaotic moments on video when people fought over towels as they loaded their carts with discounts.
Even the most dedicated shoppers will find their own path to get to the best deals. Andrew Morris posted a video to YouTube showing a man frantically climbing over a refrigerated foods section to get to a crowded area of the grocery section. Morris said the moment of mayhem happened at a Walmart in Coos Bay, Oregon.
More than 135.8 million customers plan to shop over the holiday weekend, according to the National Retail Federation. While Black Friday has historically been a strong day for retail, many customers have also turned away from the frenzy in favor of shopping online for Cyber Monday, when an estimated 183.8 million people expected to place online orders.