Analysts: Thanksgiving Night Openings Were Successful, Here to Stay

GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Despite the scuffles, the pepper-spray and the stampedes, the midnight openings on Black Friday were a success, say retail analysts.

The CEOs of Target, Toys R Us, and Best Buy said that crowds were more than their stores could even handle. The success of the venture means that early Black Friday openings are in for the long run.

The dark side of Black Friday, however, was on full display. At a Walmart outside of Phoenix, Ariz., a grandfather was slammed onto the floor by police suspecting him of shoplifting. He told officials that he had tucked a video game into his waistband so he could save his grandson from the riotous shoppers.

In Los Angeles, police searched for a woman accused of using pepper-spray to get ahead in a line outside of Walmart. At least 20 people were injured in the incident. On Saturday an unidentified woman turned herself in, although police have not released any details.

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