STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
No less, and maybe a little more.
That’s basically how retailers around Meadville summed up their sales for Friday’s traditional kick-off to the holiday shopping season.
And that assessment seems not too bad, considering that national business analysts have predicted higher gas prices, rising heating fuel costs, tightening credit, lower home values and dangerous toys may add up to the slowest holiday shopping season in five years.
“Things are going very well — I’d say better than last year,” said Chuck Schultz, manager at Kmart in Vernon Township, on Friday afternoon. “I think people stayed right here in Meadville this year” to shop because of the day’s snowy weather.
Anna Pinto and her children, Erico and Luane, are a Brazilian family visiting the area for the holiday. They said they made a stop at Kmart on Friday to take advantage of some of the store’s deals.
“This is my first Black Friday in the United States,” Pinto said as she and her kids stood in front of a cart full of clothes, Christmas decorations and other assorted items, including a couple of Nintendo Wii games. “Everything is so much cheaper, so people can spend more.”
Alan Moss, owner of the In Phase gift shop at the Downtown Mall, said business at his store seemed a little slow Friday, but noted that Black Friday isn’t traditionally one of that store’s busiest holiday shopping days. The Saturday after Black Friday “is often a little better,” he said.
At Wal-Mart in Vernon, store co-manager Tom Hunt said it was business as usual. Business “is good. Right now, it’s about the same as last year,” he said Friday afternoon.
Elsewhere in the region, Prime Outlets in Grove City opened its doors at midnight Friday, offering ardent shoppers an additional 25 percent to 50 percent off items in nearly all stores.
Pennsylvania State Police made sure Black Friday shopping at the outlets ran smoothly by posting dozens of officers at the outlets beginning at 9 p.m. Thursday.
Last year, the outlets’ post-Thanksgiving discounts led to hours of gridlock on Interstate 79, with people parking their cars along the highway to get to the outlet mall shops.
Police say officers helped direct traffic into the parking lots. At midnight, when the main area filled up, police directed traffic to alternate lots.
Local News
Shoppers take advantage of Black Friday deals
- Local News
-
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
During the past five years, Moody’s Investors Service has assigned three different ratings — all within the range of “upper medium grade” to the City of Meadville’s bonds. In 2007, the city was given a rating of A3, the lowest of the trio. In 2010, the city’s bond rating was raised to A1, the highest ranking in the “upper medium” category. Monday, Moody’s gave the city’s $10,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2012, which went on the market Monday, the middle rating of A2.
-
Elderly, disabled and their caregivers have tremendous new local resource
The new Crawford County Link isn’t a place, but an information network to help people age 60 and older or those between 18 and 59 with disabilities stay living independently.
-
County's median age rising as population still stable
Crawford Countians are growing older and aging in place.
-
Crawford Central yearlong pay freeze plan fails
Differences over details have derailed a contract featuring a one-year pay freeze for Crawford Central School district teachers, leaving district administrators looking for ways to close an unexpectedly large 2012-13 budget gap.
-
Saegertown singer has date with CMT
A Saegertown man will appear on the Country Music Television (CMT) show “Singing Bee” on June 1 at 8 and 11 p.m.
-
Court ruling means county politicking can continue
A proposed resolution to limit Crawford County employees from serving as a chair or vice chair of a political party can’t be enacted because of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in a Montgomery County case.
-
Officials: Rape suspect kills himself before trial
A Crawford County jail inmate died at an Erie hospital early Saturday morning in the wake of an apparent suicide attempt, according to county officials.
-
Cambridge radio station offers soundtrack of local music scene
Lately, “I’ve been having a heavy-duty highlight on local artists every other hour,” Sam Reese said as he sat at the controls of WXCS 92.9 recently, queuing up the current block of tunes lined up for play.
- NEW LOCAL: Crawford County jail inmate dies at Erie hospital
- NEW LOCAL: Fire destroys Cambridge Springs area barn and dairy herd
- More Local News Headlines
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Iowa Man With Zebra, Parrot in Truck Gets DUI
Egyptians Pick New President in Free Election
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
