Shoppers waited in line outside Toys R Us to be the first to grab ahold of the doorbuster deals, but the atmosphere at the outlets was more relaxed.
By Sheree Moore
At 1 p.m., Katie Simons raced over to McDonald's instead of preparing the traditional Thanksgiving meal, in order to rush to the Deptford Toys R' Us. Her goal was to be the first customer waiting in line for the Imaginarum 55-piece train set and table.
The four-hour-long wait ahead of her paled in comparison to the deal she was getting. The set was marked down from $109.99 to $39.99.
"It's a door buster sale, first come first serve, so I had to be the first one here," Simons said.
Simons, a 29-year-old Glassboro resident and mother of two, said the set is for her youngest son, whose birthday is today. His love for trains is what made her give up spending time with family to make sure he got what he wished for.
"You can't beat this kind of deal," Simons said.
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This deal was one of dozens at Toys R' Us, with prices marked down 50 to 75 percent.
Fifteen minutes prior to opening, the line went from about twenty people to sixty and it snaked around the building.
As the doors opened, the crowds rushed in with shopping carts in one hand and shopping lists in the other, before scattering throughout the store.
"I got everything I was looking for," said Whitney Cooper of Washington Township. She picked up one of the three Imaginarum train sets available.
Some shoppers appeared overwhelmed by the store's new layout, designed to reduce people cutting in line. Others knew exactly what direction to head in.
"I'm on a mission," said Pine Hill resident Heather Hablin as she whipped her cart through the aisles, finding everything she had on her list in matter of twenty minutes. "See, I have a game plan. I bought everything I wanted from here. Next up is Target, Wal-Mart, then Game Stop."
Down the road at the Gloucester Premium Outlets, which features 95 stores, the atmosphere was more relaxed, complete with holiday themed music and decor.
"We try to give the our customers a full experience so they just don't come here to shop but really enjoy all the amenities that we have to offer as well," said Kristin Murdica, General Manager of the property.
"I love it here," said Heather Dorsett of Mantua, who opted for a quieter, slower-paced shopping experience rather than the malls. "The people are very friendly making for an enjoyable experience and the sales are always great here."