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Is shopping a new Thanksgiving Day tradition?

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The leftover turkey was barely cold and thousands of people across the state flocked to the stores.

Toys R Us in Castleton opened its doors at 5 p.m. as a line of shoppers flooded in. The Kmart on West Washington Street opened up at 6 a.m. Thursday, and a manager said they won’t close until Friday night.

Retail giants who open on holidays continue to face criticism from people who feel families should spend Thanksgiving together at home.

Travis Patton, on the other hand, said his family has made shopping a Thanksgiving tradition over the last few years. They strolled through the west side Kmart just before noon Thursday with carts full of toys.

“Tomorrow’s basically crazy everywhere; today’s kind of calm,” Patton said. “After this, we’re going to go eat and then we’re going to go Christmas shopping again.”

Not everyone’s ready to make shopping an annual part of their turkey day.

Ron Bradley took his daughter out to buy some shoes, but he said next year he plans on waiting to shop until Black Friday.

“I don’t really care for it too much because it kind of stretches our shopping days and lessens our family time together,” Bradley said.

Kmart store manager Dave Swank said he expects a heavy influx of shoppers starting Thursday evening. He said he tries to accommodate the Thanksgiving hours his workers request. The store also hosted a Thanksgiving feast for employees, according to Swank.

Swank said the calls he’s getting are a little different this year.

“There’s no hot items. It’s more of the basics. They came in looking for furniture, towels, clothing, things like that,” Swank said. “There’s no hot toy.”

But Patton found himself with a cart full of toys. He said he’s not done shopping yet.

“It’s going to be today, tomorrow and probably Sunday.”