CITRUS PARK - It’s 3:46 p.m. and people are packed into Westfield Citrus Park’s corridors, but outside the parking crunch is easing. An occasional space has opened in the main aisles, and drivers have stopped trailing shoppers loading bags into their trunks. Traffic is flowing smoothly from the roads that feed into the mall.

- Courtney Cairns Pastor

CITRUS PARK - Amid the sequined Santas and embroidered wreaths on holiday sweaters were these clever T-shirts worn by shoppers at Westfield Citrus Park:

“Dear Santa, Let Me Explain.”

“Define Naughty.”

“I Kissed Santa.”

- Courtney Cairns Pastor

WESLEY CHAPEL - Al Erturk isn’t a typical Black Friday shopper. He doesn’t get up early to look for toys or clothing for family.

Some years he uses the day to search Sears and other electronics retailers for equipment for his small business. This morning he stopped at the Best Buy near his home.

“I want my guys to be equipped with digital cameras,” said Erturk, owner of A-Niks Outdoor Comfort Solutions in Wesley Chapel.

Buying four to five cameras makes sense, he said, as long as he can get them for $70 to $80 apiece. His crews would be able to get before-and-after pictures of their work to show to prospective clients.

“We’re only four years old and we’ve had growth every year,” he said. He must have continued growth to pay for investments he’s made in new equipment.

“It’s all bad news,” Erturk said, “but I have personally met few people affected by the economy. They’re not affected unless they’re in real estate.”
But to be on the safe side, he and his wife and daughter “watch our household budget.” They weren’t doing any personal shopping today, he said.

- Jo-Ann Johnston

CITRUS PARK - The growing crowds at Westfield Citrus Park were getting to one young lady Friday afternoon.

The girl, carrying a shoebox in her hand, threatened bodily harm if anyone happened to get in her way.

As she zigzagged through the walking traffic, her friend laughed as she ran to catch up.

- Angela Delgado

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