The day after: Utah shoppers brave cold for post-holiday deals

SALT LAKE CITY — Not unlike Black Friday, loads of people make the trek out to shop on the day after Christmas.

And just like last month's big post-holiday shopping day, Utahns were met with below-freezing temperatures and above-average sales to draw them in.

Paige Weber, 18, spent part of her day at The Gateway with her 20-year-old sister, Chelsee, for some sibling "bonding." Paige recently moved to Orem, and Chelsee lives in Layton. They got together to help Paige spend a gift card she received for Christmas.

After careful deliberation, she decided to plunk down $158 for a pair of skinny jeans that she fell in love with.

"They're really cute, and I don't have any other jeans like them," she said. "(They) fit me and hug me, and (they're) just wonderful."

Paige admitted that she had never spent so much on a pair of jeans before — "That's a lot of money," she said.

"These will probably be my favorite jeans I ever own," she said.

The Webers weren't the only people who chose to spend some quality family time in retail therapy. Derrick Dibble of Brigham City and 12 other family members drove into Salt Lake City to buy post-Christmas gifts.

Dibble said because of his parents' recent divorce, they were spending the day after Christmas with his father and creating a bit of a new tradition for the family.

"Everyone is doing their own shopping and wrapping their presents tonight (to be opened on Sunday)," he said. "It's kind of different."

While plenty of folks braved the chill of outdoor shopping in December in Utah, a bunch more chose the climate-controlled comfort of one of the Wasatch Front's indoor malls.

Michelle Yee and her sister, Angela Lan, both from Salt Lake City, shopped for after-Christmas bargains at Fashion Place in Murray.

"Before Christmas, I shop almost exclusively for other people," Yee said with six shopping bags in tow, "but this is more for me."

Meanwhile, Brinly Bunnell and her mother, Lori, of Sandy, initially came to return a pair of shoes and exchange a jacket, but the Bunnells couldn't resist the deep discounts.

"We didn't come for the sales, (but) I guess you could say the sales caught our eyes," Brinly said.

Lines at various other stores were filled with enthusiastic and patient shoppers. Some waited in line for more than an hour to make their purchases.

While the lines may have been long, so were the hours to be worked by employees and managers in the retail industry.

Isaac Kline, who manages The Buckle at The Gateway, said his store would be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Despite the long day, Kline said his staff and the customers keep the atmosphere lively and entertaining.

"This is really one of our fun days of the year," he said. "We try to make it fun and exciting."

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