Black Friday Boom: Lincoln Square Preps for Longest Shopping Season

Some residents and businesses started stringing up the Christmas lights as soon as the Halloween decorations came down, but hardcore shoppers know when their dream season begins.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has become the accepted if unofficial start of the Christmas rush. It's a huge day for retailers but only the first of a roughly month-long extravaganza.

And thanks to Abe Lincoln, who decreed Thanksgiving a national holiday, Franklin D. Roosevelt, who signed into law that it should fall on the fourth Thursday in November, and Pope Gregory XIII, who blessed the calendar we use by papal bull, 2012 has the longest possible shopping season.

“It’s really important to a small business like ours to have those extra days."

To explain: Because Nov. 1 fell on a Thursday, the fourth Thursday—and Thanksgiving—couldn't fall any sooner. And that means there is more time for shoppers to shop and businesses to reap the bounty.

Between the pop-up shops and holiday sales, local businesses say they’re ready for the shopping rush.

Martha Burrows, a shopkeeper at Timeless Toys Ltd., an independent toy store in Lincoln Square, said while Black Friday madness is for "big box" stores, they're looking forward to the increase in sales the longer shopping season will bring.

"We certainly have an increase in business that will continue to grow until Dec. 25," said Burrows, whose husband Harry also shopkeeps at the store. "I put on a lot more staff and extend hours between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We increase inventory, but we don't do midnight madness and 3 a.m. sales."

Customers this shopping season have seemed excited about the upcoming holidays, Burrows said.

"This year, I do see a difference, I see a bubbling of excitement for holidays and shopping," she said. "This is a perfect time to shop. We have a lot of staff and not as many customers. ... People come here because we do have great customer service and we try to find the right thing for every kid."

And more stores are popping up for the holiday season all over the area. While Kooky Kids Company, traditionally a pop-up store, planted its roots on Southport Avenue for good, two stores in East Lake View are taking advantage of the longer shopping season. 

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Chitown Clothing opened a short-term retail shop at 3435 N. Broadway, and Two Sided at the corner of Clark and Wellington streets expanded into a vacant space next door. Two Sided’s manager Adie Hannan says she didn’t know the shopping season would be extra long this year, but says, “it’s interesting.”

“Two sided has been open for nine years, and usually we have to pack away some merchandise to make room for the holiday items,” Hannan said. “The expanded store opened official on November 1, and it will be open for a few months. Hopefully sales will be as wonderful as last year.”

What’s your favorite small business in Lincoln Square to find the perfect holiday gift? Tell us in the comments!

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