DENVER — The annual holiday shopping event of the year is upon us. While Black Friday holds the title many have come to learn, the shopping frenzy actually kicks off on Black Friday Eve, or Thanksgiving Day.
Best Buy in Aurora opened its doors at 5 p.m. A line that wrapped around the corner was waiting outside when it did. In the line was the Ortiz family from Aurora.
“All right!! Happy Thanksgiving!” father Ortiz shouted as the packed the last of three flat screen TVs in their trunk.
But to reach their Black Friday happy ending, it meant standing in line for hours in frigid temperatures.
“We started yesterday. We put our tent here,” explained daughter Yesi Ortiz.
On thanksgiving afternoon, while many were feasting with loved ones, the Ortiz bunch were surrounded hundreds of strangers. All of them in line outside the Best Buy in Aurora and all presumably with a goal in mind.
“A 42 inch smart TV and like two regular ones,” explained son Ortiz.
Inside helpers in blue prepped the store for what was to come, the kickoff to the holiday shopping season. Meanwhile the Ortiz clan stood in their spots as they anxiously waited for the golden ticket.
“They get us the TVs that we want,” added Yesi.
Tickets are almost as good as the real thing on Black Friday.
“For a lot of the really hot products. We are able to ticket numbers one through whatever we have and that way it stops a lot of the chaos from happening. And they can come in and they are guaranteed that product,” explained James Robinson, Best Buy store manager for the Aurora location.
When the clock struck five doors opened and it was game time. Once the Ortiz trio wiggled their way in, it was onto the next line. As the saying goes, a family that waits together stays together. One hour later they finally paid for their brand new TVs. The last step would be to pack the new TVs inside their SUV out back.
The untraditional Thanksgiving turned out to be a family affair the Ortizs will not soon forget.
“For those who are opposed to having Thanksgiving opening, I would just say it’s a lot of fun and the people that are out there, they are not opposed to being here on Thanksgiving,” commented Robinson. Just ask the Ortiz bunch.