Let’s make a deal

Early hours and cut prices Friday morning led to a busy day for some Athens stores.

Beall’s Department Store manager Ronni Casal said employees were kept busy after a 9 a.m. opening — an hour before their normal 10 a.m. shopping day.

“It’s been good, we’ve been doing good,” she said, “walking around with our heads chopped off.”

Casal said the store sent out 20 percent more coupons this year over last year.

Payless Shoe Source store manager Crystal Barlow said business was steady. She said the store had discounts on tennis shoes and clearance items.

JCPenny Department Store manager Steve Murphy said nothing out of the ordinary had been done. He said the store was busy since it opened its doors at 5:30 a.m., four-and-a-half hours earlier than the stores normal 10 a.m. opening.

“We had our normal clearance,” he said. “It’s a typical day after Christmas.”