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Yvonne Sones of Toy Heaven in DuBois said business has been steady and appeared to be about the same as last year.
Popular items included Thomas the Train products, Melissa and Doug wooden toys, games and Calico Critters, which are small animal families that live the good life as people do with houses, cars and other accessories.
"We don't have as big of an inventory as we've had in the past. We're trying to keep it at a minimum because of the economy, but it's really hard to do because there are so many great things," Sones said. "You've got to carry what sells."
Another reason for the decreased inventory is because manufacturers' inventories are low, leaving a lot of parents frantically searching and Santa dealing with the dilemma of whether he can leave an "IOU" under the Christmas tree.
"A lot of things we aren't going to be able to get until next year," Sones said.
The business is a family business , with her two daughters and two granddaughters helping customers and pitching in during the day - which lasted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sones said when they opened Friday morning, people were waiting to get in.
"We have a great, loyal clientele. We can't express how kind they've been," Sones said. "We want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday."
Sones said hours will be extended and specials will be offered throughout the season.
Other stores, such as the Old Charm Bed & Breakfast in St. Marys, are going all out to make local shopping alluring and convenient.
Michael Wurm said every Wednesday until Christmas, the store will be offering lunch, allowing working people to grab a bite - and gifts - on their lunch breaks.
Additionally, on Thursdays, the store will be open until 8 p.m.
Wurm said the most popular items in the gift shop have been Christmas-themed gifts, as well as items to help people decorate their own homes for the season.
Cathy Fremer, owner of Bill's Place in Brockway, said the shop has been very busy, but she doesn't attribute much of the bustle to Black Friday but rather to the Christmas Gathering in Brockway. The gathering is a six-day event that draws people to downtown businesses and organizations.
"Everyone is running to DuBois to get the bargains," she said around 2 p.m. Friday. "The last two to three weeks (of December) we'll start moving a lot of things. People usually come here for their unique shopping."
In the store, located on Main Street, home decor and Christmas items were the hot, although there's a little something of everything for everyone.
Open for 30 years, Dostal's Curiosity Shop on Brusselles Street in St. Marys is slowing down when it comes to the hours it's open, but on Black Friday it didn't appear to be winding down in terms of traffic.
Owner Jeanne Dostal admits she's slowly "phasing out" of the business, but it's going to take some time.
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In her 30 years running the store, Black Friday was usually a day where local people flocked to malls and other towns to see what kind of deals they could get. They would usually make their way to Dostal's sometime in December.
At the small shop, "Christmas is more of a feeling," she said.
Playmobile toys are the most popular items, particularly the pyramid and Egyptian set which has sold out in most of the stores in the state. The store, celebrating its 30 year anniversary, is offering 30 percent off its Playmobile toys.
Dostal tells stories of common family members, of customers and of the toy being bought which she has grown to love. She said many of the people who frequent the store are home for the holidays and make the store a regular stop.
"My biggest problem is, I have a hard time letting go," she said as she explained a shelf of dolls from around the world to a customer. "I know the artist and maker of all of those dolls."
One young boy walked shyly up to the counter and handed Dostal a handful of small penguin figures and Playmobile toys. In his pocket he palmed various coins he earned throughout the year, which were counted by his father and given to Dostal.
"The penguins were his first choice," the father said with a smile.
Dostal gently wrapped them, relaying a story of a Texas family who travels to the area each year bringing all their children - each equipped with a plastic bag of money they earn throughout the year which they fondly call "Dostal money."
"There are unique things here. It was never the same as bigger stores," Dostal said.
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Reported by Katie Weidenboerner, Tri-County Sunday. Email: katiew@thecourierexpress.com.
