Black Friday encroaches on Thanksgiving

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Black Friday is expanding to Black Thursday, with many large retail chains opening on Thanksgiving itself. Some think that idea is a turkey.

Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Sears, Target, Toys R Us and many others will open late Thursday night, despite complaints from their employees.

Most small, independent businesses will remain closed Thanksgiving.

On South Congress, at the store Maya Star, manager Claire Garcia says "It's okay because we have our local people who come to us and everyone is here for the experience of south Austin."

Likewise at Tesoros, sales clerk Anne Marie Hearn-Darst points out, "We will not open on Thanksgiving. People shop here because we're unique. People who want something different that not everyone has come here."

Shoppers on the street did not seem to keen on the Thanksgiving shopping.

Jenny Mayronne says, "I think it's ridiculous. People should be able to spend time with their family."

Another shopper, Billy Marcus, says, "It's too much. It doesn't allow people working retail to be with their family."

The concept of Black Friday began in Philadelphia in the 1960's. It spread nationwide a decade later, and now it appears, it is growing.