Pat Hudgins of DeMotte clicks her car horn to locate her car after getting Black Friday shopping done at the Toys R Us in Merrillville, Ind. Friday November 23, 2012. Black Friday shoppers started very early Friday morning, some even Thanksgiving night, but Hudgins said she started at the more reasonable time of 8 a.m. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
Beth Hunt of Portage (left) braces herself against a blast of cold wind as she finished shopping with her mother Ann Sabin, also of Portage at the Westfield Southlake Mall in Hobart, Ind. Friday November 23, 2012. Black Friday shoppers continued their purchasing power after an early pre-dawn start, and even Thanksgiving night. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
Antonio Robles, (from left) Carlos Carrillo and Ivan Mota head for their car with packages in hand after Black Friday shopping at the Westfield Southlake Mall in Hobart, Ind. Friday November 23, 2012. The trio drove from Lafayette to get their holiday shopping deals on Black Friday. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media
CHICAGO — Yes, Black Friday shopping is now woven into the national culture and it’s overshadowing the relatively relaxed Thanksgiving holiday. But just as the phenomenon seems to get larger, it’s strangely getting smaller. For all the reports of people lined up in the chill …
