Black Friday: Photos of shoppers at Toys ‘R’ Us, Best Buy and more in the 1990s and 2000s

Editor’s note: A version of this story was originally published in 2019. It has been updated by Sydney Maldonado.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Through the years, Staten Islanders have embraced the Black Friday shopping challenge, lining up outside the Staten Island Mall, Best Buy, or the former Toys “R” Us stores, among others, to be among the first in the door to grab doorbuster deals in short supply.

In the 2008 file photo above, shoppers line up at the Staten Island Mall, New Springville, in the wee hours of the morning.

Check out additional photos of Black Friday shoppers on Staten Island in years past.

1997Shoppers stroll inside the Staten Island Mall on ‘Black Friday’ 1997.Advance/SILive.com2000Carts piled high, Christmas shoppers consider their options as they cruise the aisles of Toys ‘R Us in New Dorp on Nov. 24, 2000.staten island advanceToys R Us employees Gloria Brown and Rafael Colberg (in blue shirts) greet early-morning shoppers with breakfast bars at the 6 a.m. opening of the New Dorp toy store in 2000.staten island advance2003In 2003, Brian France, of Graniteville, who went shopping with his sister and mother at the Staten Island Mall, takes a break from his shopping spree.staten island advance2004After waiting on line for hours in 2004, Staten Island shoppers rush into the Best Buy store, hoping to find the item they want at a discounted price.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCETracy Lucey of Westerleigh loads up her car with the assistance of employee Sean Sweeney, outside Toys ‘R’ Us in New Springville, November 2004. Ms. Lucey arrived at the store at 5 a.m. in order to get a jump start on her holiday shopping.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE2005Tara Tomasuolo of Graniteville waits on line to pay at 5:10 a.m. on Nov. 25, 2005, at Best Buy.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE2007Determined to get the best deal, holiday shopper Melissa Cohen, of Graniteville, waits on the jewelry line inside J.C. Penney at 4 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23, 2007, at the Staten Island Mall.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCEAt 4:24 a.m. on Black Friday in 2007, Albert Kaziu, of Westerleigh, huddled with Raquel Feilhardt outside Best Buy, New Springville.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCEOn Nov. 23, 2007, security tries to control shoppers at Best Buy at 5 a.m. Many stood on line for hours, some in shorts, having arrived during warmer weather.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCEAt 4:33 a.m. in 2007, Sherri Giammarino of Westerleigh waits outside Toys R Us with list in hand. “It’s the only time I get to shop without kids,” she says.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE2008A line of shoppers wait for the Disney Store to open in the Staten Island Mall on Nov. 28, 2008.Staten Island AdvanceDavid Valentine 19, of Port Richmond, waited 29 hours in 2008 to be first in line when Best Buy opened on Black Friday morning.Staten Island AdvanceAfter waiting for the store to open at midnight on Nov. 28, 2008, Michele Twomey of Great Kills fills her shopping basket at the Disney Store in the Staten Island Mall.Staten Island AdvanceLinda Vinciguerra, owner of Linda Lingerie in Tottenville, makes Black Friday shopping special at her store in 2008 by offering drinks, cookies, candy and up to 50 percent off select items.Jan Somma-HammelOn Black Friday in 2008, Sheeri Hightower, front, of New Dorp, and Kimberly Klapak, of Elm Park, are among the first shoppers to enter the Mall.Staten Island Advance2009Holiday shoppers line up outside the Toys ‘R Us store in New Springville on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, to take advantage of Black Friday deals at the store’s midnight opening.Staten Island AdvanceHoliday shoppers line up outside the former Toys R Us store in New Springville on Thursday Nov. 26, 2009, to take advantage of Black Friday deals at the store’s midnight opening.Staten Island Advance2010More than 200 people brave the cold and light rain to wait on line with hopes of capitalizing on Black Friday deals at Best Buy in 2010.Mark Stein2011Cousins Christina Rivera and Alexis Mercado of Clifton wait in line at Toys R Us for Black Friday shopping on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011.Staten Island AdvanceSeveral hundred shoppers line up to wait for Best Buy’s midnight opening in 2011.Staten Island Advance