Black Friday 2012: Strange Things You Saw While Shopping

A woman wading in a mall fountain? A cow in line at Best Buy? Patch hit the local shopping scene Thanksgiving night and Black Friday to talk to shoppers about the craziest, funniest or weirdest stories from the day.

Black Friday is a day for doorbusters, discounts and lines—oh, the lines. Shoppers of the Southland descended upon Orland Park, as the mecca of shopping and home to Orland Square Mall, Best Buy, Target and big names in retail. Patch hit the streets—and the lines—Thanksgiving night and Black Friday to chat with shoppers about their tales from the retail frenzy.  Some, like Nicole Harris, filed into line outside Best Buy as early as 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night, with hopes of an encounter with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. Harris sacrificed the comfort of her own bed in the name of shopping.  "We camped out last night in our tent, but we weren't the first ones here, which was kind of a surprise," Harris said. Those in line alongside Harris …

•  5 Comments
• Photos (5)

Auto Dealer Found His Future In Used Cars

Mick Walsh came to the United States from Ireland to escape a poor economy. He didn't know he would find success as car salesman, opening AutoFuture in 2004.

Mick Walsh, the owner of AutoFuture, came from Ireland to begin a new life. He did not expect to serve others finding transportation. "My wife and I got married in Ireland in 1985, he said. "Right after that, the economy got real bad in Ireland. The taxes were very high. After working there, we decided there were better opportunities in America. When I first came here, I thought I was going to get in the real estate business. READERS' CHOICE: Nominate Your Favorite Car Dealership in Frankfort "Then my wife's family met me and saw potential in me to be a car salesman, I worked for my wife's uncle in Wisconsin, he added. "That's how i got in the car business. Ten years after that, we decided to move to Frankfort. We wanted to be closer to …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (5)

Readers' Choice: Who Is Frankfort's Favorite Florist?

With prom and wedding seasons upon us and Mother's Day right around the corner, residents are looking for a good, local flower shop. Tell us who you're loyal to and vote for that store in our poll.

Nothing screams "last minute" to a prom date than a corsage made up of daisies and dandelions picked from the side of the road. And doesn't your mother deserve something a bit more special than an arrangement that still smells like unleaded gasoline because you picked it up the day before at the corner gas station? READERS' CHOICE: Find Out Which Businesses are Frankfort Favorites There's no excuse for either situation, especially since Frankfort has its share of quality florists. But who is your favorite? Now's your chance to tell readers where you go for all your floral needs and give that flower shop a chance at the title of Frankfort's Most Loved Florist. Here's what you need to do: The business with a combination of the most poll …

•  31 Comments
• Photos (1)

Best Buys Will Be Closed

What about ours? There are six Best Buy stores in the south suburbs, but a list of closures isn't known yet.

Best Buy executives may be giving up on some of their big-box stores, according to a Wall St. Journal report on Thursday. The Minnesota-based electronics chain said it would close 50 Best Buy stores. At this time, however, the list of stores to close isn't known. Southland Best Buy outlets are in Tinley Park, Orland Park, Homewood, Matteson, Crestwood and Burbank, and there's a mobile shop in the Chicago Ridge Mall, according to the Best Buy store locator. "I am not satisfied with the pace or degree of change we have made up to this point," Chief Executive Brian Dunn said in a conference call with analysts, adding, "We are evolving our retail store strategy. We are increasing our points of presence while decreasing our overall square …

•  16 Comments
• Photos (1)

Last-Minute Shopping? Check Out Our Local Shop Gift Guides

There are only hours left until Christmas, but Frankfort retailers still have great gift ideas--as well as discounts. Find out what's available before you make your shopping trip.

Midnight Madness--Frankfort's premiere holiday shopping event--might be over, but that doesn't mean you can't still check out what local shops and stores are offering. In fact, many retailers are continuing to discount their merchandise until Christmas. PHOTOS: What Deals Did You Find at Midnight Madness?  Before you head out to the stores, find out what items they have on their shelves thanks to our gift guides: Also, check the Frankfort Patch Facebook. It's a good place to find out what deals and discounts local stores will be offering before Christmas. BUY A GREAT GIFT AT A FRANKFORT SHOP? Give your review of the retailer in our Patch Places business directory.

• Photos (1)

PHOTOS: What Deals Did You Find at Midnight Madness?

Shoppers squeezed into stores in downtown Frankfort for the village's holiday shopping event, looking for discounts and the perfect gift.

Local shops and restaurants probably wish every Friday was Midnight Madness, judging from the crowds of shoppers that descended on downtown Frankfort. The Trolley Barn, shops like Cottage Creations, Briosa Boutique and Chew On This Dog Barkery, and even restaurants like Smokey Barque and Francesca's Fortunato were packed with customers looking for deals while trying to finish up their holiday shopping. Frankfort Patch was out at Midnight Madness on Friday. Check out the photos from the events in our media gallery, which also includes photos taken by Kirsten Larsen, the owner of Etc. Stores Inc. Make sure you also read Larsen's blog on Patch. WHAT DEALS DID YOU FIND DURING MIDNIGHT MADNESS? Post photos here of what you bought during the …

• Photos (7)

Editor's Notebook

Midnight Madness Survival Guide: What You Need to Know About Tonight

Will you be out searching for deals during Friday night's holiday shopping event?

Forget Black Friday and Small Business Saturday. The biggest holiday shopping day--er, night--for Frankfort is Midnight Madness.  OK, I'm speaking metaphorically here. But many villages businesses, especially those downtown, look at this annual shopping event as a major revenue stream, and many have high hopes for Friday's affair. In fact, the local retailers I've spoken to this past week have said they hope Midnight Madness continues the trend of robust holiday sales that started with a strong Christkindl weekend. But what do Midnight Madness shoppers need to know to make the most of the night? I've put together all the information you should have before heading out this evening. READ: Patch's Guide to the Holiday Season in Frankfort When…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Small Business Saturday: What Local Shops Are Participating in the Day

Black Friday is over, but that doesn't mean retailers are done offering sales, especially smaller, local stores.

Just because the shopping feeding frenzy of Black Friday is over doesn't mean that stores are through offering deals and discounts to customers. Especially when it comes to smaller, locally owned shops. That's where Small Business Saturday, a day set up to support the importance of retailers not connected to big chains. The Frankfort Chamber of Commerce has put together a list of area businesses that are offering special hours, deals and discounts for the day. READ Local Buying Habits Affect Frankfort's Bottom Line WRITE REVIEWS for these local stores in our Patch Places business directory. Know of other local small businesses participating in Small Business Saturday? Tell us in the comments section.

• Photos (1)

Fall Fest: Storms Cut First Full Day Short

Late afternoon rain forces arts and crafts vendors to close early.

Arts and crafts vendors and the carnival at Frankfort Fall Festival were forced to pack up early Saturday as a series of rainstorms moved through the area.  Although the rain made for a wet afternoon, the event had a fairly standard opening day, said festival chairman Mark Giovanazzi. If anything, Saturday's early humid conditions were probably more of a deterrent for people than the downpour, he added. READ: A Fall Fest Schedule of What's Happening When "(Attendance) was slightly lighter because of the heat," Giovanazzi said. "Because of that, I think a lot of people are just shifting their shopping to Sunday and Monday when it's supposed to be nicer." Early in the day, many attendees took advantage of the shaded tents on Breidert Green, …

• Photos (4)