Ventura County Black Friday, Oxnard, Ventura, Moorpark, Documentary

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Black Friday in Ventura County 2007, Pt 1

Ventura County Newspaper The Black Friday starts early Thanksgiving Day morning with a delivery of your newspaper.

This paper contains a lot of fliers and coupons from local businesses.

If you are planning for Black Friday bargain hunting, Thanksgiving Day's newspaper is a must. Since my last episode with LA Times, I subscribe Ventura County Star now. (LA Times still owes me $25.00)

Ventura County business opening hours

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Staples - 6am          Circuit City - 5am
Michaels - 6am         Office Max - 7am
Radio Shack - 6am    Walmart - 5am
Office Depot - 6am    Kohl's - 4am
Sears - 5am             K-mart - 6am
Best Buy - 5am         Sports Authority - 5:30am
Toys R Us - 5am       Mervins - 4am
Target 6am              Linens'n Things - 5am

First stop - Moorpark Market Place (12:00AM)

At 12:08am, Kohl's and Linens'n Things at Moorpark were totally empty. There was absolutely no car in the parking lot, and there was nobody in front of the door. I was a little disappointed to see virtually no action considering Kohl's would open in 4 hours.

Moorpark Kohl's Market Place
Kohl's & Linens'n Things Parking Lot - Moorpark Market Place

At Target, on the other side of the Market Place, there were about 10 people sitting in the line. Three people were playing football.

Target Moorpark Marget Place
Target 12:08am - Moorpark Market Place

I was out for less than one hour but I was already getting sleepy. It was also very cold. So we picked up some donuts and went back home for a retreat.

Donut Queen Camarillo
Donut Queen, Camarillo, 12:38am

We left home for the second time at 2am. As we drove by Camarillo Factory Outlet on 101 fwy, we saw hundreds of cars trying to get into Factory Outlet. Traffic was so thick that entire Ventura Blvd around Camarillo Factory Outlet was a big parking space.

Next Stop Fry's at Oxnard - 2:15am
Fry's at 2:15am was unreal. There were a lot of people waiting in line. The line was reaching outside of the parking lot. Parking lot was busier than what you can see during the normal business hours.

Frys parking lot
Parking Lot at Fry's (Oxnard) - 2:22am

Frys Oxanrd, Black Friday
Fry's, Oxnard - 2:30am

Compared to Fry's, Office Depot was pretty slow. There was only one person with three chairs. I guessed some family members were resting in the car.

Office Depot, Oxnard 2:30am

Shopping at Rose, Oxnard - 2:50am
I crossed 101 Freeway to Best Buy at Shopping at Rose. I knew this would be the highlight of the Black Friday. Unlike any other stores, I saw a lot of tents at Best Buy, indicating that they have been there for many hours. At 3am the line was in the backside of the store. Parking lot was full and there were people walking around everywhere. Best Buy had a courtesy to provide a porta-potty at the side of the building.

Best Buy, Shopping at Rose
Best Buy, Oxanrd - 2:50am

Best Buy, Oxanrd
Behind Best Buy, Oxnard - 2:50am

Walmart (Oxnard) was interesting. They had a huge police vehicle parked in front of the building. Walmart at Oxnard has two entrances. They were two lines forming for each door.

Walmart Oxanrd
Walmart, Oxnard. line for North side entrance - 3:02am

Shopping At Rose, Wal*Mart
Walmart, Oxnard. line for South side entrance - 3:12am

Circuit City Oxanrd
Circuit City at Oxnard Promenade - 3:37am

At 3:30am, Circuit City's line was very long

Ventura Kohls
Kohl's, Ventura 3:55am - 5 minutes before opening

Ventura Pacific View Mall
Pacific View Mall, Ventura - 4:22am

The night was cold and the Moon was bright. I met a lot of people. Everyone out there was happy. People didn't just come out to save money, but they came out to have fun.

A lot of people waved at me and wanted to crack jokes with me. Some people wanted their pictures taken. A group of youngsters with loud music pulled up next to me and started to dance. The entire Ventura County was in the party mood.

Some people talk about Christmas being too commercialized that we forgot about the meaning of Christmas. As long as people can have fun and share love for the community I think it's all good.

Look at these happy people. It's beautiful. God bless them all.

Some of the folks I spoke to, Fry's & Circuit City, Oxnard (2:30am - 3:30am)