Downtown Auburn to celebrate Blue Friday shopping event – The Auburn Plainsman

While Thanksgiving has become a day where people fill their bellies, the day following the holiday, Black Friday, is one where people fill their shopping carts. On Nov. 29, local businesses in Downtown Auburn will extend their store hours and offer discounts in what they are calling Blue Friday. 

Blue Friday brings a positive and fun environment to Downtown Auburn, allowing customers to shop for the holiday season while receiving discounts and other gifts. Many shops will open as early as 8 a.m.

“It’s the same concept as Black Friday, except we’ve always just said that in Auburn, it’s not black, it’s blue. Some of [the local retailers] will have doorbusters, some will give a gift card to the first 25 people in line and they all open at 8 a.m.,” said Jessica Kohn, the downtown coordinator for the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association. 

Kohn emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses, especially during the holiday season.

“It’s really just a day that we highlight our local retailers. Blue Friday just started as an initiative to just really highlight shopping local and kicking off the holiday season supporting local businesses,” Kohn said.

Behind the Glass, a local retail store in Downtown Auburn, prioritizes its ability to focus sales on all customer demographics, including those of all different ages. Donna Young, the owner of Behind the Glass, highlighted the store’s Blue Friday discounts.

“There will be a 20% discount for the whole store and then we will give gift cards to the first 25 people that come in the door. The sale also goes on all our sales stuff, so you get some really good deals that way as well,” Young said.

Young shared her passion for supporting local businesses and discussed how it benefits the community.

“It’s just really important to our community to keep our sales tax dollars here and to keep people employed. Local businesses give back to local charities as well. If you keep your dollars here, it just reverberates around in our community in a positive way,” Young said.

Behind the Glass will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Blue Friday.

Despite many students being away for the Thanksgiving holiday and the Iron Bowl, local business owners and employees look forward to the shopping event. 

Adalyn Lassiter, a sales associate at Ellie Clothing, detailed their Blue Friday sales. 

“We will have a lot of doorbusters, and then it’s 20% off every purchase, excluding doorbusters. The first 25 people get a voucher for $25 and Ellie Cash with a purchase of $50 or more,” Lassiter said.

Almost every business in Downtown Auburn will be open and ready for customers on Blue Friday. Discounts, gifts and more will be accessible to everyone.