LaGRANGE – Local stores got off to a slow start on Black Friday, but by lunch time, crowds of shoppers filled stores downtown and the mall.

Local stores stayed busy for Black Friday this year. The annual sales event is often credited with keeping businesses profitable, and stores around town were excited about the shoppers who came out for the sales.

“(We’re) very busy, busy, busy,” said Julie Canavan, a manager at Shoe Shoe of the Black Friday turnout.

Like stores all over the country, shops at the LaGrange Mall opened on Thursday for sales to cater to shoppers wanting to beat the holiday rush, and the results were encouraging.

“We did exceptionally well (Thursday), and we’ve been very steady this morning,” said Jacklyn Lewis, the manager at Dry Falls. “We’re excited about the numbers we’re making.”

LaGrange stores sometimes have to compete with larger cities to get shoppers to come out on major sales days like Black Friday, but local managers encourage people to support local business by shopping in town.

“People should always shop local,” said Bonnie West, a manager at Sock Shop who also plans to have sales for Small Business Saturday. “No need to go out of town, buy gas, fight crowds when you have good places to shop in town.”

Reach Alicia B. Hill at alicia.hill@lagrangenews.com  or at 706-884-7311, Ext. 2154.