Shoppers in search of Black Friday deals are getting an earlier start every year. To keep up, stores are opening more promptly than ever.

Some doors have begun opening on Thanksgiving night, getting a head start on Black Friday while still allowing time for holiday dinner, but some are opening even earlier than that. Some stores are not even taking the holiday off, commencing business at 6am on Thanksgiving Day.

This phenomenon is becoming widely known as "Brown Thursday."

Comedian and late-night television host Jimmy Kimmel jokingly protested this new theme in holiday shopping, ranting about it on an episode of his show and proclaiming "Not every holiday needs a color. Are these holidays or terror alerts?"

Shoppers are ready for any opening time, with some already camping out waiting for their favorite stores to open. Store employees are affected by the unusual hours, and they have to leave family time early to go to work if their store opens during the day on Thanksgiving.

Mostly malls and large retail stores are currently opening early for Brown Thursday. Small businesses are not as concerned with the extra Black Friday attention, since being open for a shorter time just means their stores will be busier than usual during those hours.

Here’s a list of retail outlets with their opening hours for those creating shopping plans:

— Toys R Us: 5 to 9 pm. Thursday, 5 a.m. Friday

— BrandsMart: 6 p.m. Thursday through 10 p.m. Friday

— Walmart: Doorbusters start at 6 p.m. Thursday

— Target: 8 p.m. Thursday to 11 p.m. Friday

— Best Buy: 6 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday

— Kohl’s: 8 p.m. Thursday to 1 p.m. Friday

— Discover Mills Mall: Midnight to 10 p.m. Friday

— Belk: 8 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday

— Mall of Georgia: 8 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Friday

— Gwinnett Place Mall: 8 p.m. Thursday

— Stein Mart: 7 a.m. Friday

On The Web:
Forget Black Friday, as Brown Thursday nears
http://www.wwaytv3.com/2013/11/25/forget-black-friday-brown-thursday-nears