Many Black Friday shoppers leaned toward keeping their dollars out of the malls and in local stores this year.

At Town East, Black Friday shoppers Pam Barnes of Wichita and her sister Tammy Mullins, who was in Wichita from Lyons, say they woke up at 5 a.m. to beat the crowds. “I love it,” says Mullins. “It’s the thing to do every year.” Barnes explains what excited her about Black Friday, “The people, the bargains.” “And tradition,” added Mullins.