Modesto-area shopping guide: When do Stanislaus County stores open this Black Friday?
Black Friday shoppers in the Central Valley won’t face snow nor rain nor gloom of night — at least not anymore — as most of the area’s largest retailers won’t open until the morning after Thanksgiving.
Those difficult wake up in the dead of the night or skip the turkey choices for shoppers wanting the best deals are largely no more, as for the second year in a row many major companies are staying closed on Thanksgiving Day. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused an abrupt, and some might say welcome, change to the corporate holiday shopping schedule.
Modesto’s Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto will open well after sunrise for a change this year. Last year the retail center opened at 6 a.m. during its first pandemic Black Friday. This year the mall has an 8 a.m. Friday opening, just two hours earlier than normal.
Vintage Faire has opened in the early morning hours for Black Friday itself since 2010, when it first opened its doors to shoppers at midnight. Three years later the center pushed shopping back even earlier, as Macy’s opened at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
But the pandemic has helped put an end to much of the wee hours shopping and sleeping on sidewalks that were common just a few years ago as people waited overnight to get door buster deals. In fact, Target recently pledged to remain closed on Thanksgiving Day for good, bucking the trend of earlier and earlier holiday openings.
This also means exhausted retail workers, who have been through a roller coaster these past two years, will hopefully have needed time off to celebrate with their families Thanksgiving Day.
Before you go out to face the crowds this shopping season remember that while the indoor mask mandate was lifted for vaccinated residents of Stanislaus County earlier this month, Vintage Faire and other retailers require unvaccinated shoppers to still mask up.
Here’s a look at when major retailers will open on Black Friday, Nov. 27; all are closed on Thanksgiving Day except where noted:
Bass Pro Shop: Open 9 a.m.-6. p.m. Thanksgiving, 5 a.m. Friday
Best Buy: Open at 5 a.m. Friday
Big Lots: Open 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Thanksgiving, 6 a.m. Friday
Burlington: Opens 7 a.m. Friday
Costco: Open 9 a.m. Friday
GameStop: Open 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Thanksgiving, 7 a.m. Friday
Home Depot: Open 6 a.m. Friday
Kohl’s: Open at 5 a.m. Friday
Lowe’s: Open 6 a.m. Friday
Michael’s: Open 7 a.m. Friday
Office Depot/OfficeMax: Open 8 a.m. Friday
Old Navy: Open 5 a.m. Friday
Staples: Open 9 a.m. Friday
Target: Open at 7 a.m. Friday
Vintage Fair Mall: Open 8 a.m. Friday
Walmart: Open 5 a.m. Friday
Small Business Saturday
While you’re doing all your shopping this Friday, don’t forget about Small Business Saturday. The national event encourages people to make purchases at smaller, locally owned shops for the holidays. Modesto of course has no shortage of great independent businesses with an almost endless array of offerings.
Unfortunately, for the second year in a row the pandemic has canceled the popular Mod Shop event in downtown Modesto, but plenty of other local shops and stores sell handmade crafts by local artisans. Modesto’s Downtown Improvement District and Downtown Modesto Partnership have launched a “Shop Small Saturday” campaign that includes discounts, complimentary beverages and snacks and more at certain stores.
You can also stop by Modesto’s McHenry Village or Roseburg Square for great independent shops and boutiques. Take a trip to downtown Turlock to find antique shops and home decor studios with great gifts. Park your car on Modesto’s J Street and stroll along to find hidden gems. Or stop by any of your favorite specialty food manufacturers, from our local fruit stands to olive oil and other producers, and pick up a gift basket brimming with Central Valley products.
Even in another difficult pandemic holiday season, Modesto-area stores are stocked and waiting. So take your time and enjoy a good meal with your family this Thanksgiving. The shopping will still be waiting for you when the turkey is all done and the tryptophan has kicked in, I promise.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
