MISHAWAKA – We're a day away from Christmas. It's down to the wire and not surprisingly there are still a lot of people who haven't started their shopping.
It's a race to the finish out there and time is running out fast.
But last minute buying has become somewhat of a trend; the mall was packed on Friday and it was rare to find an open parking space anywhere along Grape Road.
Stores are welcoming the extra boom. So much so, they're accommodating and encouraging the rush.
It's a deadline many of us struggle to meet every year.
"Everyone likes to last minute shop, no man's an island," said Tom Roe as he shopped in Mishawaka.
Now that's the holiday spirit!
Roe and he niece Brittney Szalewski hit the stores with some serious energy. They seem to be on target with their shopping lists.
"I want to go and shop around for a few little gift cards and make people happy," Roe said.
But they're still looking for the best buy out there.
"Do we have time right now to be comparison shopping?” asked WSBT.
“Oh yeah, we have all night, all night," Szalewski said.
And they really do! Toys R Us is open all night long Friday night into Saturday – it closes at 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve!
And other stores have hopped on the bandwagon, staying open later than usual on Saturday.
Meijer is open until 7 p.m., Wal-Mart until 8 p.m. and Target is open until 9 p.m.
But if you've waited this long...
“Last minute shopping, everything's gone," Szalewski said.
Some are still scrambling from store to store - they call themselves proud procrastinators.
"I just put everything off to the last minute, sometimes I have other important things to do," said shopper John Jessen.
For the rare few, there's a small sense of relief and redemption.
"This (gift) is the very last one," said one father.
But if you are just getting started, brew the coffee and bring your patience.
This could be one long Saturday.
"No sleep, we don't need sleep," Szalewski said.
And of course the shopping party doesn't end Christmas Eve. Many will be back at it on Monday morning to catch those after Christmas sales.
