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Thousands Head to NewPark For Black Friday

NewPark Mall management said the opening drew in more shoppers this year than last.

Thousands of shoppers lined up at late Thursday night waiting for the second Black Friday midnight opening of the shopping center.

They came ready, wearing puffy jackets and beanies, pajama bottoms and bundled up in blankets. And all of them were looking for deals.

But while many were trying to get deals on big-ticket items, such as TVs and other electronics, others tolerated the cold and the crowd just to see what was being offered.

Newark residents Melissa Baptista and Ashley Silva are frequent Black Friday shoppers. Why do they do it?

“We’re crazy,” Baptista joked. “[But] we’re just browsing.”

It was the first time Union City resident Jessica Rohrbacher went out to check out the savings offered to consumers.

“It’s intense,” she said about the dedicated people who lined up hours before the opening.

Her hope was to take advantage of an iTouch deal from that comes with a gift certificate with a purchase, but said she wouldn't be upset if it wasn't going to work out.

“I’m not sure I’ll do it again,” Rohrbacher said. “If I see something I like, I’ll get it. If not, I’m not going to trample over anyone for it.”

NewPark Mall Manager Kelly Gardner said the number of shoppers this year totals nearly double than that of last year, which is when the mall had its first soft midnight opening.

“By the looks of everything …the registers have long lines, people with a lot of shopping bags …it’s looking up,” Gardner said. “[It] looks like its promising.”

Gardner estimated that there were about 3,000 shoppers by midnight with more trickling in as the day went on. About 40 stores participated in the midnight opening.

As for the customers who found the stores they hoped to shop at closed at midnight, they still lined up.

Milpitas resident Mahesh Madhvani said while it was questionable to wait up to another five hours for to open, the deal to save $170 on a Playstation 3 set wasn’t one he could pass up.

“It’s worth waiting to make the kid happy,” he said.

Mona Taplin November 25, 2011 at 02:35 pm
Some of the stores had the same bargains online during the same hours. That's where I made my 1 purchase.
James November 25, 2011 at 06:12 pm
Mona,
Isn't shopping Online so much easier? If more Newark Stores made the leap to an Online E-Commerce Presence, I'd be willing to support them. When I'm out and about I just can't be arsed.
Mona Taplin November 25, 2011 at 06:43 pm
Most of the time I prefer to shop in area stores because I can see what I am buying. If I can't find what I want near by or if I see something I'm familiar with at a real bargain price like on Black Friday, I'll check online for it rather than stand in line for hours in the hope of getting it. Many retailers are offering free shipping on items on sales like this which makes it even more enticing to shop online. Online shopping is a truly great blessing for handicapped people. Much better than yesteryears catalog shopping.
Rob Sorensen November 26, 2011 at 03:46 pm
I'd say there are those who enjoy shopping as a kind of event. The thrill of starting into the holiday season, seeing decorations, hearing some music to get into the mood. For people watchers it's heavenly! I hope they don't run out of those Ohio beef sticks before I get there! Yikes.
Bud Daily November 26, 2011 at 04:11 pm
If you must spend your money in Newark, spend it on marijuana !!! Check out the selection of the finest herbs at our local dispensaries just in time for the holiday season. Then get in the mood by passing the bong,singing a few carols & gaze at the twinkling lights. Reminds me of the holidays I spent with my family growing up,ahh the memories. If you've never experienced the joys of this beneficial plant,why wait ? 'Tis the season after all !!!
Summer Hemphill November 26, 2011 at 04:20 pm
I'm with you Bud ! I'm making my list & checking it (wait a minute I seem to have lost my train of thought) twice. I'll be baking lots of goodies while I'm getting baked. Is that the smell of Christmas pines or the piney smell of some Chrismas skunk ?!? I love the holidays !
Mona Taplin November 26, 2011 at 05:36 pm
You are right Rob. I used to love to shop for my loved ones in the malls and hear the lively Christmas music and always wish the good mood would last forever.Peace on earth good will to all! Now I don't have the energy to do much of that or to decorate my house the way I used to, but I sure do enjoy it in the little spurts when I can.
As for the messages about dispensaries, I'll do my celebrating without the use of cannabis thank you.
Timothy Swenson November 26, 2011 at 07:16 pm
Bud,
You make it sound as if the plant is more for recreation than for medicinal use. I'm sure I never felt the same way about Vicodin when I was passing my kidney stones. It's comments like yours that make me regret supporting medicinal use in the first place.
Bud Daily November 26, 2011 at 08:15 pm
Advocating smoking marijuana & its legalization in no way detracts from its legitimate & legal medical benefits. The lax guidelines as to who constitutes legitimate patients are just one of the byproducts of the inaction of our elected representatives nearly sixteen years ago. Is this information new to you ? Any regular recreational user would be foolhardy not to become a patient if for no other reason than to avoid arrest. There are three pending initiatives for legalization collecting signatures for the 2012 ballot,but I don't see anyone proposing to tighten present patient requirements. Punishing thousands of legitimate patients to make access harder for those who had little trouble finding it before is asinine. Trust me I've been smoking it virtually everyday for over forty years,marijuana has been around for centuries & is gaining greater acceptance everyday. Since there has never been a documented case of marijuana killing anyone & Vicodin overdoses (medical & recreational) kill thousands every year,we should all be thankful that you don't advocate its use or abuse. However unlike you I don't waste my energy complaining about or interfering with Vicodins legitimate distribution. I became a patient because of a long term problem with chronic pain,but that doesn't preclude my continuing support for its legalization & my encouraging others to become legally protected cannabis patients. Quit bad mouthing one of your Gods greatest gifts to mankind you uninformed hypocrite.
Timothy Swenson November 26, 2011 at 08:38 pm
"I've been smoking it virtually everyday for over forty years" You seem to be proud of that statement. Not something that I would be proud of. If you are so proud, use your name on these boards. Don't hind behind some nom de plume, especially if you start the name calling.
Bud Daily November 26, 2011 at 09:20 pm
"When travelling abroad in the continential style one must always attempt to be discreet & subsequently bear in mind your transient position allows you a perspective that's unique". - Tom Waits
Albert Rubio November 27, 2011 at 03:26 am
What's the difference between:
1."I've been smoking Marijuana virtually everyday for over forty years" 2. "I've been smoking Tobacco virtually everyday for over forty years" 3. "I've been smoking pencil shavings virtually everyday for over forty years" 4."I've been drinking coffee virtually everyday for over forty years" 5. "I've been drinking beer virtually everyday for over forty years" 6. "I've been drinking wine virtually everyday for over forty years" 7. "I've been drinking Pepsi virtually everyday for over forty years" Answer: nothing. The LAW is ARBITRARY affecting these cases and therefore MISGUIDED and MISUSED. What you eat, drink or smoke is not a moral/immoral act. These are subjective value judgments that have no place in law. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE that what you eat, drink or inhale harms society or makes people evil. This is simply childish and superstitious. Just look to the time when Prohibition made criminals out of beer drinkers. The law is committing a crime against the rights it is meant to protect. Misguided ideas imposed on others (by law) is what harms society. For those who feel law must be used to protect people from themselves... I have this to say: "I never hurt nobody but myself, and that's nobody's business but my own" - Billy Holiday I don't personally care for smoking (or Bud's approach) but I and society benefit by protecting the rights of others. It is a duty. It is an error to decide rights on personal feelings.
ordinary joe November 27, 2011 at 01:27 pm
It is a fallacy that the marijuana users are doing to alleviate cancer pain. There are more marijuana shops in the LA area than the total number of McDonalds, Burger Kings and Taco Bell added together!
Albert Rubio has a big laundry list of items people consume every day and according to him, marijuana is in the same category. Why not then they pay the sales tax and buy them? Why it has to be sham-deal the way it is now that supports the junkies in the society?
Albert Rubio November 27, 2011 at 08:32 pm
> Why not then they pay the sales tax and buy them? Why it has to be sham-deal...?
When the law prohibits the free production and trade of a product in demand, it becomes part of the black market. Black markets are inherently a result of the legal prohibition. The problem is not the black market, it is the legal prohibition. Undoubtedly legalizing alcohol has benefited all of society. the same would occur if all illegal substances were legalized. This is a conclusion of Economic logic.
Ima Dawn Baker November 27, 2011 at 10:21 pm
The two legal (under state law) cannabis dispensaries in Newark collect thousands of dollars in sales tax every week. There are hundreds of thousands of legal cannabis patients in the LA area & there wouldn't be hundreds of dispensaries if there wasn't a commensurate demand for the medication & services they provide. Competition in any business is always beneficial to consumers,much like you can choose what pharmacy you wish to patronize based on pricing & services they provide. The Compassionate Use Act was passed by the voters in 1996,it's the law here not some sort of sham as you suggest. Marijuana isn't addictive like the heroin used by the junkies you refer to & the only correlation between the two is in your mind. Doctors have deemed cannabis a valuable tool to treat a variety of maladies the number of which grows on a daily basis. Whether some believe that access may be too easy for some they consider unqualified,they're less qualified to render their own medical opinions regarding this issue. Summer is absolutely correct when she points out that those opposed to dispensaries are either anti-drug crusaders or ignorant of the complexity of the issues at hand. Why does our city council champion the views of the ignorant few ahead of the needs of the hundreds of cannabis patients who live in Newark. Tell your city leaders not to waste anymore of the cities meager resources pursuing this losing matter through the courts. It's a waste of time & it's just morally wrong.

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Zoneil Maharaj (Editor) June 18, 2013 at 02:47 pm
That's great to hear! We have a full list of locations in Newark, via Newark Unified, here:Read More http://newark.patch.com/groups/schools/p/newark-unified-offers-free-summer-lunches-for-community-children
Rob Sorensen June 16, 2013 at 09:28 pm
I'd suggest working thru the Principal at NMHS with less speculation. I too was involved with PTA,Read More Newark Schools Fdn, Jaycees and other non-profits. Best practices are that the one handling, depositing money not also be the one keeping books. A great volunteer shouldnt be put under suspicion without there being group neglect. By-laws and an active Board can cleanup this miscommunication. The school Principal is the MOD.
Dan June 17, 2013 at 07:40 am
I agree 100% with CT
Andrea " Andy " June 18, 2013 at 10:10 pm
I helped run the Snack Shack for 10 years presented a Binder to Coach with all Accounting of allRead More monies provided for deposit - Its real simple if any Booster member requests to see Books - Give them the Books for review - I do not understand why this has not been done - Even if seen in 2010 this is 2013 and things change and the Membership is entitled to regular Audits on the money they worked so hard to raise. So produce, show and review!!!!!
Mona Taplin June 15, 2013 at 06:23 pm
Good response Teddy, and truth.
Bong Sativa June 17, 2013 at 05:57 am
The more likely explanation is that the vast majority of Newark Police officers lack the requisiteRead More aptitude & agility necessary to fill shopping bags with groceries & didn't want to do anything to further embarrass themselves while under the scrutiny of the bewildered shoppers like James.
Teddy June 17, 2013 at 12:12 pm
Bong Sativa maybe you can meet Officer Indica.
Shimadog June 15, 2013 at 10:10 am
Could it be that, because busloads of inner city non resident children jam the place, someone wiselyRead More decided to make the hours available to Newark taxpayers first?
Audrey June 15, 2013 at 10:27 am
Yes they are walking as I write this! but it is not to late to sponsor them! please!!!
Mona Taplin June 13, 2013 at 04:03 am
This probably sounds heartless, but it sounds like this house should be condemned before a tragedyRead More occurs. I doubt if any organization can bring it up to code because of the cost. It's really sad to see this happening to a working person in this country.
Adam Moe June 13, 2013 at 09:47 am
I'm not sure if your mom will qualify but there are lines of credit out there that she can get as aRead More home owner. It will require her to have the income to pay back small portions at a time. Not trying to make it harder just trying to help. See about it online or let me know more and I'll see what I can do to help.
Teddy June 16, 2013 at 07:00 am
Mona Taplin you are right on re: all your remarks.
Tony June 16, 2013 at 05:33 pm
Thanks James!, You know it's amazing when somebody puts their own personal time to learn andRead More understand something and then you share it... I would have been more then glad to explained myself in more detail face-to-face because I may learn something myself but like a marriage you don't get on here and start posting every little detail about you and your wife and I'm not going to get on here and start posting every little detail about my past employer`s. So to whoever flagged me you could have simply posted a disagreement and I'm open-minded and can admit when I make a mistake...I would've simply deleted my post if you could've proved it wrong.
James Nelson June 18, 2013 at 07:58 am
Tony, You are an upstanding individual, glad you joined the Patch! ;)
James Nelson June 18, 2013 at 08:11 am
I would also like to point out that I have on two other occasions asked this Mike Bucci guy the sameRead More question and each time I am Ignored. If this is what us Newark Residents can expect from an aspiring Politician then he can keep his day job! We already have enough Status Quo people in our gov failing to answer the simple questions.
James Nelson June 5, 2013 at 09:11 pm
Landline? That's like so 15 years ago! People still do home telephone services? Wow!
Dina Murtaza June 9, 2013 at 08:41 am
Yes I have a cell phone and a landline when I am working. Lots of people have it as a 2nd phone.Read More Found out the people working on the lines accidently cut off the phone lines.
Audrey June 6, 2013 at 05:36 pm
have they been claimed yet anyone know??
Anna Locke June 7, 2013 at 09:17 am
UPDATE! Just got a call this morning from a neighbor of the man who owned them. The gentleman diedRead More Mon or Tues and the poor dogs hadn't been well taken care of for years - slept outside, no affection, etc. Long story short - the neighbor wants to adopt them! YAY! <3
Anna Locke June 5, 2013 at 01:35 pm
Make sure to post on Facebook. He may have a microchip...hopefully. You can take him to CentralRead More Vet to check. Good luck! I just found two at the Lake Monday evening.