Lawrence shoppers found relief for their frozen feet inside stores on Iowa Street long before sunrise on this “Black Friday.”

The hope of walking out with early-morning discounts fueled hundreds of people – some who waited hours in temperatures below 20 degrees – eager to start their Christmas shopping.

“It’s just the excitement. Finding that one special thing that no one else will have, or just a good deal,” said Danielle Copeland, of McLouth.

She was up by 2 a.m. and waiting in line at Kohl’s Department Store, 3240 Iowa, before the retailer’s doors opened at 4 a.m. Copeland emerged from the store about 30 minutes later with sacks that are now secret gifts for family members.

At Best Buy, 2020 W. 31st St., a line snaked around behind the store, as shoppers counted down to the 5 a.m. door opening to get their hands on new televisions, computers, video games and other electronic gadgets.

“It’s going to be a mad bum rush. I guarantee it,” said Larry Walters, a Tonganoxie man who works for a moving business in Topeka.

It wasn’t quite that crazy, but the shoppers wasted no time moving inside.

Bundled up in a Carhartt jacket and layers of clothing, Walters braved the frigid temperatures through the night in front of the store. He was near the front of the line.

He had been waiting in the dark – since 6:30 p.m. Thursday – to buy gifts, including a new laptop computer.

“The deals are a lot better when the sun’s down,” he said.