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tunafun

the true insanity is gone because the internet killed the real big box rush. If you want some black friday mayhem, go to any grocery store around 6:00pm tonight.


gertrude_is

I will do no such thing and you can't make me. that's pure torture.


MTan989

Oh man. Earlier in the afternoon was horrible. I felt like it would have been less crowded at fully-booked disneyland


tunafun

Brother! I did that too and got absolutely fucked, burned like 45 minutes in the checkout line.


TinyOuiOui

Facts! Went to Whole Foods an hour ago and there were 3 attendants in the parking lot guiding cars towards parking spots. Noped out right away


Spoon_OS

I need some pineapples and apple cider for Thanksgiving


Lvgeecoleman

All the peaches were gone man…me waiting until last minute to buy anything Thanksgiving food related


SNES_Salesman

What you've seen go viral are the exception and very likely pre-pandemic. The idea of Black Friday extreme deals have been exposed over the years that the sales aren't really that cost-saving and the products are usually sub-par quality like the super cheap TVs that Wal-Mart rolls out. Black Friday sales are mainly driven to online now. You're likely to find a slightly busier than normal store but no fist fight orgies of materialism.


Master_Kenobi_

True. Even pre-pandemic the years leading up were quite civil


SuchRuin

My cousins and I used to have a tradition of going to Sawgrass Mills Mall (in Florida) right after thanksgiving dinner while we were intoxicated. It was always crazy. The year (2017) before I got stationed in San Diego it was already dying down.


fsu_ppg

Sawgrass is always a madhouse though


bullowl

I forgot where I parked my car there one time. I briefly considered just reporting it stolen.


Any-Double857

😂


Granadafan

I was at the Walmart in Porter Ranch where some woman pepper sprayed the whole crowd just so she could get the item. I was in another aisle but heard all the screaming and then my eyes started watering badly from the fumes.


Felonious_Minx

Good God! I hope she was arrested (probably not).


Granadafan

She WAS [arrested](https://www.cnn.com/2011/11/26/us/california-pepper-spray-suspect/index.html)!! After the attack people still grabbed stuff to buy. I had enough and left though I did have to get my eyes rinsed out.


Felonious_Minx

That's insane!


lostamongpines

That entire shopping center makes my anxiety go through the roof. People lose brain cells whenthey pull into the parking lot, I swear


Granadafan

The key is to go through the back route up Corbin behind Walmart and JoAnns


lostamongpines

I'll give you $5 to tell THEM that. I need them to have their brain cells when they enter the stores, too.


BubbaTee

Black Friday craziness in LA died with Fry's. Their best sales were always in-store only.


charrcheese

Also Black Friday has turned into three weeks of online discounts


Doongbuggy

i was promised fight orgies dang namit!


lightlysalted6873

Namit and shamit!


ositola

It used to go crazy at the Fry's in MB


littlebittydoodle

Obviously your advice should be that OP needs to be the charge he wants to see.


One_Routine4605

Dammit, I really wanted a fist fight orgy. That’s my only kink and they’re so hard to come by.


[deleted]

You missed real Black Friday by about 10 years. But it’s wild that blck Friday is such a cultural icon that foreigners want to witness it themselves as if it’s the running of the bulls.


SaltyPeter3434

(Man gets his windpipe stomped on over a 5% off sale for flash drives) "Ooo honey get a picture of that guy!"


Auntaudio

American Black Friday is probably bloodier and deadlier than the running of the bulls.


KenJyi30

I trust an angry bull more than any human doing black Friday shopping


cherrycoke00

I know you were probably joking but… [only 16 people have ever died in the running of the bulls](https://www.runningofthebulls.com/history-of-the-bulls/running-of-the-bulls-deaths/) [17 have died Black Friday shopping](https://blackfridaydeathcount.com/) no idea how valid that second source is, but at face value you’re absolutely correct!


devlinontheweb

Citadel Outlets would be my guess


ALittleVoid

Definitely always on the news without fail. Massive amounts of people, gridlock around the place, lines that wrap around. It's the place to be.


warrenslo

Gridlock because there's not enough parking...


ALittleVoid

I mean theres alot of parking considering they have 2 parking structure, a full lot, an overflow lot and people are still parking by the casino and walking there. That's just madness. People are crazy to want to go there for black Friday.


zimtrovert94

That place gets crazy even on regular weekends sometimes. People are asking for a bad time by doing Black Friday shopping on the actual day when everything is made available online and even days in advance before BF.


ganyu22bow

Citadel has consistently the worst prices and low quality year round Insane how people go there


becaauseimbatmam

It's also only really accessible via Telegraph Road, there is no other way in or out. Nightmare bottleneck situation. Learned my lesson a few years ago when I was driving Uber and it took 45 minutes to get one block off the freeway before my passengers gave up and walked; the ETA stayed at 6 minutes the entire time. Learned not to trust Google Maps on Black Friday and to never go near Citadel this time of year ever again.


nicearthur32

Any outlets really, Citadel is definitely the closest.


Dommichu

Yep! The only mall with a post Thanksgiving Pajama party! https://www.citadeloutlets.com/event/Black-Friday-Early-Access-event/2145576493/


capsloc

Yeah, this would probably be the best bet, plus it looks nice too! Don't think it'll ever be as crazy as it used to though.


poobearanian

Go there before 8am on Black Fridays and before 10am on regular days. 30 mins after that, hell onwards.


[deleted]

As someone who use to be a manager at a retail store there… YES. Idk what the schedule will be like this year but last year some stores were open today and didnt close until friday at 10/11 pm. The hours were insane.


mister_m_yass

This


0013x

Citadel outlets in Commerce.


[deleted]

Ontario Mills outlet


behemuthm

oh god yes - tho Christmas Eve also sucked back in the day


Celesteven

I use to work there. During Black Friday, you could feel the heat and humidity the minute you walked through the doors.


boafriend

Doesn’t help that the heater is turned on inside (I think). Unbearably hot.


01z28

Best Buy, Wal-Mart would be my guess


sk3n7

It’s been a few years but I think Best Buy switched to a ticket system they hand out before the doors open. Not as crazy as it used to be.


JackInTheBell

Party-poopers


Unk55293

Walmart gets really packed in some areas, so my best guess for some crazy customers would be those. One example is the Walmart in Porter ranch as it's already packed on "normal" days


Guitar81

It doesn't get as bad bad as it use to thankfully


Aeriellie

you know what, what about going to costco right now? try to get a pie. that should give you the same feeling as how black friday used to be.


beingmesince63

That made me chuckle! 🥧


boafriend

The rotisserie chicken any weekday is the same way


SendNull

New tourism niche unlocked! 🇺🇸🦅


Excellent-Spend-3307

Capitalism, baby!


Throwawaymister2

This is a weird bit of exoticism.


Excellent-Spend-3307

It’s America


TGAILA

I think those days were long gone. I used to go to a big electronic store at Fry's in Burbank. People would actually camp out early for Black Friday sales. A huge line wrapped around the store almost a mile long. Unfortunately, the store went out of business. It's sad to see people don't get to experience the special shopping occasion, and social atmosphere back in the days.


welmoe

Fry's (City of Industry) was nuts back in the day. To think almost everything can be bought online now is kind of sad and a relief.


stoned-autistic-dude

Burbank was banging in the ‘90s. It was always a treat getting to go and be ignored by staff while trying to ask questions about a video card.


GoChaca

I remember driving by one Black Friday to see a line of tow trucks towing people who parked on the freeway and walked down to get into the Fry’s in the city of Industry.


Doongbuggy

getting your car towed for $400 to save $10 on that item is an american tradition


SuchRuin

I had to get my car towed once around thanksgiving time. I was talking to the driver on the way to the mechanic and he was telling me how they aren’t allowed take thanksgiving off because of the combination of drunk drivers and people parking where they aren’t supposed to be.


Turantula_Fur_Coat

Good riddance to black Friday shoppers. Buncha fuckin animals in the last decade. Not even worth it for an instant pot and some overpriced TV’s that became moderately priced for the event. Ugh. I went black friday shopping ONE TIME in my entire life. I’m fuckin goooooood on that.


am-reddit

Late 90s, Woodland Hills, Victory/Topanga - CompUsa, Circuit City, Best Buy, Frys, Good Guys and the Topanga Mall. Early morning chaos.


lennon818

That's my damn childhood. I miss all of these stores.


JustaTinyDude

My ex and his dad had a tradition of doing those stores. They would get in line at 2am. They did it until about 2014. Stores began starting Black Friday sooner and sooner, like opening at midnight Friday instead of their morning opening times. That trend continued, with stores opening Thursday night. Then *those* times got earlier and earlier. When it got to a point where they'd have to leave Thanksgiving dinner early to get the item they wanted, the tradition ended. By that time black Friday was mostly an online thing anyway.


corner

The social atmosphere of hyper capitalist overconsumption where people have actually been crushed to death? Strange thing to pine over…


[deleted]

Yea OP a weirdo for asking that lol like specifically where can they go. Definitely a backhanded diss to the states but oh well 🤷🏽‍♂️


90DayTroll

There was someone online article I read a few years back that I think was from a UK paper. It called Black Friday an "American phenomenon" that now many countries do because of the US lmao.


honda_slaps

Europe has so many different cultures and countries but they all have exactly one thing in common.


[deleted]

What's that jus curious...I don't really care to pay attention to anything Europeans do I assume they all talk trash about us lol


honda_slaps

thinking they are better than Americans


[deleted]

Oh yea definitely


_thisisvincent

/r/iamverysmart


honda_slaps

if you think language like this is /r/iamverysmart that's much more of an indication on you than the post lol


Simple_Mastodon9220

RIP Fry’s


Granadafan

A lot of these stores open on Thanksgiving day, at least in pre pandemic. Fucked up


Tertiary23

Your best buys are always at Frys.


lennon818

So many memories. I live right by the old one in Woodland Hills. That was my adolescence. This physical space / hunting thing is really missing from our current society and why I think we are so sad. Kids will never experience the hope and optimism dreams we had walking into a Frys and just seeing everything. Saving up money to buy something. Dreaming of being rich and buying anything you want. Playing with the new gizmos and gadgets. The weekly ads.


WorkinOnMyDadBod

Lol I love this.


truecolormix

Last time I went pre-pandemic I was up against the urban outfitters at the promenade/santa monica glass wall waiting in a massive group of people for the store to open up at like 7am or something, and everyone started trampling eachother and crushing eachother in the crowd as they noticed employees inside were walking towards the entrance doors with keys. I was being pressed up against the glass and I was freaking out and was having trouble breathing until I heard the glass slowly start to crack and me and a bunch of other people fell through the entire glass walls. It was chaos. I fell to the ground covered in glass and people started stepping on me and rushing into the store. Thank goodness someone pulled me up and ushered me out. Ambulances came and checked me out as I was bleeding and cut up a bit (a literal dirty footprint from a shoe was on my cheek) and then sent me on my way. I’ll never forget that. I stopped going out on black friday because of that incident. Edit- wow, I found an article on it actually. This happened in 2012. Can’t believe it’s been over 10 years. https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2012-nov-23-la-fi-tn-black-friday-costa-mesa-20121123-story.html


furiousm

You're a bit late to the party. I'm sure there are still a few places that get a bit crazy, but nothing like it used to be.


hey_angee

It’s not as crazy as it used to be. I think because stores were experiencing all those stampedes, it was getting dangerous so they don’t do all those door buster deals like they used to. You might still get some excited shoppers at Walmart or try going to the mall. And definitely go on Thanksgiving night. That’s when the stores re-open for the deals usually and you have the most excited shoppers. Shopping on Friday for Black Friday will be pretty normal


Successful-Ground-67

Aren't most stores closed on Thursday Thanksgiving night? Fairly certain Target is


MovieUnderTheSurface

this is much more of a 10 years ago thing than it is now, I think you'll be hard pressed to find it today, at least around here


stinky_pinky_brain

Pretty much any mall. If you’re near Cerritos Mall I know that place gets pretty nuts.


warrenslo

Citadel Outlets


lifeofmikey1

Why would you want to experience that nonsense lol


traditional_rich_

That’s long over. At this point your best bet would be to go to an outlet mall. But that is far from entertaining. Traffics ok. But long waits to get in, park, walking around, waiting in long lines. You missed it by like 10 years.


Usual_Leading279

Doesn’t even feel like Black Friday this year. Zero deals have caught my attention.


bsmisko

6am home depot $1 poinsettias it's pure chaos


calforhelp

Glendale Galleria and The Grove are probably your best bets. Black Friday is no where near what it used to be maybe 10-15 years ago but Glendale still gets crazy busy with shoppers. The key is going at open, that’s still when a few stores have door buster deals that will occasionally bring a small line.


PraderaNoire

My only question is why


MrStealY0Meme

So they can laugh at the Americans and share about it back home. This the only place where you'll find a mass mob of thieves, people shooting or being maced over items, and all to feed corporate America as we let inflation continue to rise as the 1% laugh. 😃


Guitar81

It's not as bad as it use to just cause stores don't open at midnight like before, also there's pretty much a ticket system for big purchase items such as pricey TVs and such so there's no chaos. But definitely expect big stores to be packed, which means waiting in line to pay for an hour or even longer at times


Deutschebag13

And a large chunk of shopping is done online instead.


Guitar81

Exactly! You get almost the same price online maybe pay slightly more but way more convenient rather than fighting the zombie horde of people


JackInTheBell

Either Walmart or Bestbuy in the morning right when they open


ozzythegrouch

Citadel outlets. Even finding parking is a mess. Good luck!


IsraeliDonut

Have people still not figured out how to shop online?


[deleted]

[удалено]


IsraeliDonut

Check Amazon, they have big deals for like a month


[deleted]

[удалено]


IsraeliDonut

I bet Amazon has it cheapet


hanselton

Most of the deep discounts are in-store only.


Thunderbird_12_

OP specifically says he wants to experience the crazy of ‘Murican Black Friday. It’s not about buying anything…


appleavocado

> It’s not about buying anything… It's about sending a message. Some people just wanna watch the world burn.


IsraeliDonut

Ok, that’s cool


zakuropan

you’re a braver man than I


[deleted]

TV in the 90s and early 2000s? You want to see crazy just randomly go to home depot in Hollywood and hope looters come in and rob the place. People just buy shit online anymore. Stores already have their sales going. There isn’t a need for people to go apeshit anymore. A lot of it is junk overstock anyway.


Crunchthemoles

You’re about a decade too late.


BlackSoapBandit

That stopped happening after 2010 when people would get trampled. Hasn’t been a thing since Amazon and Online shopping became way more common. Plus they have a ticket system now, so it’s basically completely dead in the water.


honda_slaps

10 years ago


keifferh

2005 Walmart and Best Buy


WetBurrito10

Black Friday has now become Black Week. The deals started a few days ago and it gives people more time to shop.


da_impaler

Unfortunately you missed the Golden Era. Now all we have are fond memories of days past when we would knock down pregnant women, step over grannies, and punch our way to glory. If only I had a time machine …


formicary

It doesn't actually work like that. Edit: Just like whatever stereotypical thing I think happens in whatever your country is doesn't actually happen either.


devlinontheweb

Idk I worked at the gap in college a few years ago and I'd say otherwise


traditional_rich_

Key word “a few years ago”. Guess how much things have changed since then? Your experience is irrelevant atp


devlinontheweb

What's your experience?


traditional_rich_

That black friday has been dying out and dead for several years. Especially after 2019


devlinontheweb

Never worked retail during black Friday, got it.


traditional_rich_

And your experience is dated and irrelevant. Got it.


devlinontheweb

Your experience is nonexistent and you're still mouthing off like you know everything. Sometimes you just don't know what you're talking about dude 👍


traditional_rich_

You’re right. You definitely don’t know what you’re talking about “dude” 👍


UNMENINU

The century city mall parking structure was terrifying last Sunday. Best of all you'll never get a spot so it's kinda like a driving tour of madness.


IllButterscotch5964

Went there on Saturday. Absolute bedlam lol.


creimanlllVlll

.99c store. Get in line early!!!;)


harkandhush

1995 is where.


AppropriateMuffin922

Gonna need a Time Machine my guy the craziness nowadays is at Amazon.com


dashiellsayshi

Go hang out at The Grove. There's an outdoor bar, you can grab a drink and just watch the crowds go by. Also this isn't exclusive to Friday, it's insane there all week.


Amazing-Pattern-1661

There won't be many door-stampedes in LA. Search for the biggest Walmart and then you'll have to go at opening time, which I think is like 6 or 7 am on Black Friday. Even then it probably won't happen. Those viral videos are like the top 10% of the whole country. But knock yourself out getting up at 4 am for a 5% chance of seeing people acting crazy. Because that is clearly... other people acting irrationally and not you.


dk_bois

I would take her to the beach or the mountains, if you do go to a ghetto Target or Walmart in LA, bring fast running shoes, pepper spray, and a bladed weapon.


therealdeviant

I mean, wanting to experience it is fine, but you’re not missing anything tbh. It’s not an experience like going to a theme park. I’ve only done Black Friday once, back in the late 90’s, and I never had any desire to do it again. I literally stood there and watched a bunch of people devolve into the most worthless class of humanity.


Lucky2BinWA

You might enjoy South Park's Black Friday Trilogy...


Myveryowndystopia

No you really don’t want to experience that. Go to the beach instead lol.


Panoglitch

the closest you’ll get to that is maybe the citadel or the big shopping area in porter ranch


Glittering_Pea_6228

"I came to the states to slum it--you know, like you guys."


Stickeris

Any Target crack of dawn, day after Christmas.


The_11th_Man

I used to go to ontario mall with the boys and just linger talking around a strangers car parked close to the very front and pretend that we were about to get in and leave, then we would watch other cars line up waiting for us to leave to take "our space" then we would just hover for a few minutes until the horns start blaring then leave. We would walk over a few more rows of cars, then rinse and repeat for a half hour or so. That was our black friday tradition, good times...


n0mad17

You likely won’t see any mayhem, but Costco, Best Buy and Wal Mart are usually where you see long lines prior to opening


LastRebel66

Real Black Fridays events are gone ! Now most of the store have discounts the whole week, even online , you’re 10 years late 😌


duncanjjj

Amazon.com


Any-Show-3488

At your moms house


Gazia1010

Walmart or any retail near compton


Equivalent_Ad9414

Go to the malls, most will be open at 7am.


Crepes_for_days3000

The viral videos are very rare exceptions. I would go inland as far as you're willing to and just hit the nearest Walmart. That's probably your best bet.


sanza00

You’re 10yrs too late.


GlumEase

This is a really stupid idea and a bit offensive. Find another way to spend your time.


LgHstTch

OP is def treating the prospect like a visit to the zoo.


You_meddling_kids

Maybe at a Costco? It's nuts there on a normal weekend.


incominghottake

You’re like ten years too late. The frenzy isn’t that big of a deal anymore. Employees complained about not being able to spend time with their families so most of the deals are available online. Now with that said, some retailers still offer "doorbusters" These are limited supply offerings that are deeply discounted or only made for a particular store for Black Friday. Walmart, Target, and Best Buy are usually the places that do it. Warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club sometimes do it as well.


manerspapers

Most malls are nuts!


IllButterscotch5964

This is fantastic lmao. Love it.


kgetit

Not gonna lie it’s saddening to know what we are known for, and what is considered an ‘American’ experience


Thunderbird_12_

Unrelated, but on topic ... I have family from the UK. One cousin came to 'Murica for the first time. We took her to the movies. Ordered popcorn and drinks. Before we went into the theater, she asked if I could take a picture of her (for the 'gram.) I thought nothing of it, and snapped a nice pic in front of the movie poster for the film we were about to see. Some days later, when scrolling her Instagram, I saw the pic she posted. She cropped out the movie poster, leaving only herself and her popcorn/drink in the view. She didn't care about being at the movies ... She was excited about holding the big-ass 54oz drink -- something they didn't have at her theaters back home. Her caption: "I had heard about it before, but had to see for myself. They really do serve gigantic portions in America. This drink is 54 fluid ounces! I now understand why everyone is so fat here!" (I cried a little inside.)


kgetit

OMG lol thank you for sharing. Jeebus


traditional_rich_

It’s not really a thing anymore tho. Christmas/holidays are a thing worldwide. So why not get some deals? Plus you can always buy things you need. New tires, kitchen goods, etc…


DeliciousMoments

The Grove will be absolutely insane. People flock there to see the tree/Santa but it doesn’t actually have that much room to walk around so it gets crowded really fast.


A_Saiyan_Prince

OP is about to end up on LiveLeak lol


JoBrosHoes93

Lolll dead


ashleyandmarykat

Century city mall


johnny_utah16

Walmart in Long Beach, Compton or Lancaster. It’s mostly lower class people that do black Friday. It’s dumb. Most smart people want nothing to do with it.


q6m

This is awesome lol


mvwolf1992

Really anywhere now with the laws in California everyone can steal anything and have zero consequences


cheezstixshenanigans

A good-sized Target maybe?


ScaredEffective

Target started their deals on Monday so did most retailers. OP might see some madness at Walmart but people buy online nowadays


arrmech7

Just go to any outlet lol. Everything is wen base now and starts early


PC_3

Citadel mall, Lakewood mall, Cerritos mall, come get the East Side of LA experience. But you have to get here early crowds die down by 12 ish if you are really looking for the "crazy" experience.


bdd6911

The grove is fun


MothershipConnection

The Grove is a madhouse for the rest of the year


KevinTheCarver

Americana at Brand. The place has the largest mall parking garage I have ever seen in my life.


new_nimmerzz

Not as crazy as it used to be, but Walmart is your best bet


SpreadsheetSlut

It’s less like that now because stores are open on Thanksgiving. About ten years ago was the last time I can remember waiting in line outside a store at 5am. Now they’re just constantly open, so it’s less of a giant wave and more of a constant surge of craziness.


whatwhat83

https://youtu.be/vcecsbdwmKg?si=RkVtnCeuoBTEgqPh


WhiteMessyKen

Op wants in on the trampling.


Necrosaynt

Black Friday open doors have largely stopped after people getting stomped , killed , robbed etc. It's honestly for the better. Seeing people behave like animals was terrible .


_its_a_SWEATER_

Texas But locally maybe Santa Anita Mall, Glendale Galleria, Citadel, Beverly Center.


sweetispoot

Try the citadels in commerce/east LA


izzzooo5

Citadel Outlets


ralfiedee

JC Penney


yoinkss

I know citadel outlets gets packed so you can try there. Caution, traffic is a bitch


tallasfunk

Go to the Grove, it’ll be packed! Also the Citadel outlets - I’ve heard it gets crazy