Lightning lands one shopper out early Thanksgiving Day

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– A lightning strike landed one shopper out bright and early this morning.

The doors have already opened at Kmart to kick off black Friday. Several shoppers started early Thursday morning, arriving as early as 4:00 a.m. Shoppers like Ceilya Ollangg say it’s become a ritual.

“It’s just fun and we enjoy it,” Ollangg said. “We have early dinner and then we come shopping. That’s just what we do. It’s kind of our tradition.”

For Brian Casey, however, an unexpected event landed him at Kmart on Thanksgiving Day.

“Lightning struck our house this week,” Casey said.

They’ve been out of a few items since last Sunday.

“The two TVs, the stereo, the speakers blew, cable box blew,” Casey said. “They’re still working on our cable now.”

So, Casey and his boyfriend woke up before 5:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day to go to Kmart. It’s one of few places open this early to kick off those Black Friday sales.

“Well everybody had good deals and stuff, but it interrupted dinner,” Casey said.

Casey and several other shoppers waited for the doors to open at 6:00 a.m. The employees say the best deals were in the electronics and the toys. Casey found those electronic deals purchasing his 46-inch TV. Casey said he saved $180 on the television.

Casey says now he’s got one goal in mind besides eating turkey.

“Go home, set it up and fall asleep watching it,” Casey said.

Whether it was a tradition or a need, these shoppers didn’t mind the Thanksgiving Day start.