Despite recession, long Black Friday lines surprise shoppers ATLANTA, GA (WABE) - Some area shoppers looking for Black Friday deals found them and something else. More people than they expected.

Alicia Silvestry and her family walked out of the Mall of Georgia just after 11:00 this morning. They'd been there since 4:30. It was all part of her plan.

"Wait for Thanksgiving morning to get the paper, go through the ads and head out," she says.

It's nothing new for Silvestry. However, the Cumming resident was surprised by the long lines and scarce parking spaces.

"Actually, I think it's a lot more crowded this year," she says. "We do this every year and I think there were a lot more people here this year."

She wasn't alone. Chris Bump thought the recession would keep large crowds at home.

"Just everybody struggling economic wise, I guess everybody is trying to find the deal," he says.

Bump thinks some people, even those struggling financially, make exceptions this time of year.

"I think when it comes to Christmas, people are going to spend it whether they have it or not," he says.

However, Bump says sometimes the deals are worth it. He and his wife stocked up on clothes for their teenagers.

Charles Edwards, WABE News. © Copyright 2012, WABE