Black Friday shoppers get started early

The Armendarez family -- from left, Jesse, Nicholas, Delene, Christian and Jessica -- shop for toys they’ll donate to charity at a Toys R Us in Ontario. Jesse said, “We take our children with us, so they know what it is to give.”

Martha Cortez of Fontana looks for gifts for her grandchildren on Black Friday at a Toys R Us store in Ontario.

Black Friday shoppers wait outside the Westfield Century City Mall on Friday.

Black Friday shoppers take a break at the Westfield Century City mall.

Black Friday shoppers at the Westfield Century City mall in Los Angeles.

Black Friday shoppers at the Westfield Century City mall in Los Angeles.

A man sits surrounded by shopping bags at Citadel Outlets.

Holiday shoppers walk through Citadel Outlets.

A sign advertises a sale at Citadel Outlets.

Items on display at Citadel Outlets.

Holiday shoppers scour the Citadel Outlets on Thursday.

Holiday shoppers hit the Citadel Outlets on Thursday.

Shoppers start early at Citadel Outlets, where many stores opened at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Holiday shoppers look for bargains Thursday at Citadel Outlets.

A family is among the first customers to enter a Best Buy in Atwater Village, which opened at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Aisles are gridlocked with customers at a Best Buy in Atwater Village on Thanksgiving.

The Best Buy in Atwater Village opened at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Thirty minutes later, crowds were still waiting outside.

A customer leaves a Toys R Us in Atwater Village with two shopping carts full of purchases on Thanksgiving.

Flat-screen TVs are a popular purchase at a Best Buy in Atwater Village on Thanksgiving.

Shoppers read a Best Buy flier while waiting to enter the Atwater Village store on Thanksgiving.

Shoppers outside a Best Buy in Atwater Village on Thanksgiving Day.