Waiting in the cold for deals in the suburbs
A $200 50-inch television set was the lure that had some people freezing their keisters in line Thursday afternoon outside stores in South Elgin, Schaumburg and Geneva.
Others could be found inside Wal-Mart stores in Mount Prospect and other locales staking out deals that would come later in the day or buying last-minute supplies for entertaining guests.
Patrick Parish, of South Elgin, was third in line outside the Best Buy on Randall Road in South Elgin, where about two dozen shoppers were camped.
Parish, who's never camped outside for sales before, decided a 50-inch TV on sale for $200 was worth his first try.
"I got here at 5 p.m. (Wednesday) and I'm still third in line," he said. "It's pretty crazy."
Parish said he was missing a traditional Thanksgiving meal with his fiancee and their families but the Bears fan was most upset that he missed the football game.
"I missed this game against the Lions but I'll have a sweet new TV to watch next Thursday night's game!" Parish said. "Everyone's invited."
Down the road at the Best Buy in Geneva, Frankie Lopez of Elburn was waiting shortly before 3 p.m. to see if he would be one of the lucky ones getting a deal on a 50-inch television set. He was 20th in line, having arrived at 1:30 p.m. He wished he had brought a hat or gloves. "I did not think it would be this bad (the cold)," he said.
It was his first time doing this, and he was missing family time. Dinner was due to be served at 3 by his wife and mother-in-law, but the television wouldn't be offered until at least 5. "She's (the mother-in-law) not a big fan of it (him missing dinner)," Lopez said.
He disagreed with stores being open on Thanksgiving Day. "I agree with the midnight (openings), but this forces people out of the house" and away from family, he said.
Andrea Breuer of St. Charles agreed with him. In her homeland in Germany, stores close for several days for holidays, she said. "It's more about families," Breuer said. She was there with her son, Jaden.
At the Meijer in St. Charles mid-Thursday afternoon, one man was buying slivered almonds, ramen noodles and sunflower seeds for his spouse's broccoli slaw. "Every year she forgets something," he muttered. Another man was searching, unsuccessfully, for an electric knife.
Algonquin resident Khileigh Kozak left her grandmother's house on Thursday afternoon to shop at the Wal-Mart in Mount Prospect.
Well, not shop, really.
"We're here to scout out what we're going to come in for at 6 o'clock," said Kozak, referring to the time the store was set to launch special sales.
Kozak was joined by her sister and a cousin. They didn't seem to mind being away from the family for a bit.
"This is my first year not working retail," Kozak said.
More than 100 people lined up on the sidewalk outside the Best Buy store on Palatine Road in Arlington Heights for sales set to begin at 5 p.m.
At the front of the queue was Deerfield resident Vlad Briantsev, who had been there with several friends since 9 p.m. Tuesday. They had a tent and a portable heater to keep them warm.
"It was nice," Briantsev said.
Briantsev said he spent two days outside the store because he wanted to buy a TV, a computer "and a bunch of stuff that my family probably wants."
Mount Prospect resident Rich Arment shopped at Mount Prospect Wal-Mart Thursday, too. He needed three folding chairs for houseguests, as well as some additional beverages.
As he unloaded his cart, he said he felt badly for the employees who were working.
"I hate shopping on Thanksgiving," he said. "I would honestly feel better off sitting on the floor if people could be home."