GAINESVILLE — Black Friday may still have status as the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, but Thanksgiving Thursday is gaining ground as more stores opt to open early.
Access WDUN's David Cook finished his Thanksgiving dinner and then traveled around Gainesville to capture a few photos of the beginning of the shopping season.
Cook also spent some time at the Mall of Georgia in Buford, where shoppers were busy taking advantage of Black Friday deals.
Shoppers make their way inside Target on Shallowford Road in Gainesville. Target opened at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Thursday.
Shoppers queued up inside Gainesville's Lakeshore Mall, waiting to enter Belk for Black Friday shopping.
A happy shopper enters Best Buy on Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville.
Once shoppers find the items they want, there's another long line for checking out inside the store.
Shoppers crowd the aisles of Walmart in Gainesville on Thursday night.
Shoppers line up outside of Best Buy on Dawsonville Highway in Gainesville, hoping to scoop up low-priced electronics for holiday gifts.
Bath & Body Works is always a popular shopping spot on Black Friday.
The calm before the Black Friday storm in Gainesville.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/11/352585/photo-gallery-holiday-shoppers-hit-gainesville-stores-early