Shoppers began the holiday shopping season Thursday night as several small businesses in downtown Bellefontaine opened their doors for special deals and discounts.
Stores opened around 7 p.m., and several dozen people were already waiting in line to take advantage of early promotions.
“Black Friday isn’t just one day anymore,” said experts, noting that many shoppers are spreading their holiday purchases over weeks instead of hours, taking advantage of online deals, pre-Black Friday sales, and Cyber Week discounts.
More people are also choosing to shop local this year.
Small businesses are seeing increased foot traffic as shoppers look for unique gifts and aim to support their communities rather than heading solely to big-box stores.
Several downtown Bellefontaine businesses offered an early start Thursday night, giving shoppers a chance to explore the local shops and snag deals in a festive, community-focused environment.
Logan County Chamber of Commerce President Ben Vollrath emphasized the importance of keeping holiday spending in the community.
“If every adult in Logan County spent just $20 at a local business, it would create more than $700,000 in impact for the area,” he said.
Online shopping continues to grow, offering people more flexibility to find deals from home or order ahead and pick up in-store.
Mobile apps, free shipping, and loyalty programs give shoppers more options than ever.
Shopping Online?
Experts say there are a lot of fake websites out there, and are warning shoppers to be especially cautious with social media ads that sound too good to be true.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) recommends the following tips to avoid scams:
- Check the website URL carefully and make sure nothing is misspelled.
- Look for contact information. Legitimate businesses will provide a physical address and a working phone number.
- Watch out for fake reviews. Reviews that sound generic, robotic, or unnatural may indicate a scam.
Despite the growth of online shopping, some traditions remain.
Many people still enjoy hunting for doorbuster deals and searching for special items—but overall, the trend is toward a more flexible, planned, and community-focused holiday shopping season.
In 2025, Black Friday is bigger and longer than ever, combining online shopping, local businesses, and multi-day deals into one extended holiday shopping period.
