SAN ANTONIO — Black Friday may look a little different these days, with many shoppers choosing to scroll for deals from the comfort of home. But for others, the tradition of waking up early, grabbing a coffee and heading out to hunt for in-store bargains is still alive and well.
One of the stores drawing early crowds Friday morning is Academy Sports + Outdoors, which opened its doors at 5 a.m. Shoppers were already lined up outside before sunrise, eager to snag limited-time deals on everything from athletic gear to outdoor equipment.
There was a steady stream of customers through the door and shopping since the store opened. Staff members say they prepared for higher foot traffic this year, anticipating that some shoppers would return to in-person Black Friday traditions after years of shifting habits.
Shoppers told KENS 5 they enjoy the excitement of browsing in person, comparing items on the spot and grabbing doorbuster deals they can’t get online.
Academy is expected to see consistent crowds throughout the morning as more San Antonians head out to kick off the holiday shopping season.