By Jenae Hackensmith and Jason Schoonover

Black Friday isn’t just about Friday anymore.

Sales to kick off the holiday season have already begun this year at many retailers, while others will hold VIP sales and Thanksgiving Day sales.

Here’s a rundown of what to expect at some Austin retailers.

Target

Target could be one of the busiest destinations for shoppers in Austin this year, as this will likely be the store’s last holiday season in Austin. The store is one of 11 Targets closing on Feb. 1, 2015, even though a group of area residents are calling for Target Corp. to reconsider and keep the store open.

Target is set to open at 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and remain open through 11 p.m. on Friday

“It’s the funnest day of the year to work,” said Jerald Hettenbach, who works in human resources and is a manager at Austin’s Target.

Runnings

One of Austin’s newest retailers is sticking to tradition.

Runnings, a farm and home improvement store, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. It will be open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Black Friday. Manager Everett Hackensmith was tight-lipped on the deals coming for Black Friday, but he said there should be some deals on firearms, as the retailer is one of the few Mower County businesses that sells guns.

Runnings shoppers will also get a $10 gift card for every $50 spent.

Younkers

After successfully opening to shoppers last Thanksgiving, Austin’s Younkers store at Oak Park Mall will be open a little earlier this year.

Younkers will open at 6 p.m., a few hours earlier than last year. Austin manager Randy Forster said the Thursday evening opening was popular with shoppers last year.

The store will remain open through the night until 10 p.m. on Friday.

Walmart

Walmart has three main events this year. The first starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, the second is at 8 p.m. Thursday, and the third is 6 a.m. Friday. The deals for the first two events continue until supplies are gone, the third event’s deals end at noon. There are several one-hour guarantee items this year. Customers are encouraged to bring the ads, which can be found online at www.walmart.com.

Rooms and Rest

Rooms and Rest started its Black Friday deals Nov. 11, and will continue those deals through Black Friday. The store will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday.

Deals will continue until the store closes. Deals consist of up to 75 percent off on everything, including furniture and mattresses.

There will also be special deals for Black Friday. There will be a few special promotions, including sofas and love-seats as low as $299, free local delivery, free pillows and sheets with any mattress purchase, and 20 percent off all accessories like lamps, rugs, home decor and artwork.

Manager Melissa Stowell said Black Friday has gone well for the store in the past.

“It’s actually surprisingly really well for us,” she said. “You wouldn’t think that furniture would be a big thing, but it’s actually a really good day for us.”

Jo-Ann Fabric

Jo-Ann Fabric will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. the Wednesday before Black Friday, and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Black Friday. The store will offer the same sales on both days and will be closed Thanksgiving Day.

Some of the sales offered will include 40 percent off on sewing machines, 75 percent off all Christmas fabrics, 60 percent off the entire stock of strung beads, and 70 percent off Christmas trim and tree items.

Saturday will also see doorbuster sales, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 9 p.m. Some of the sales will include 60 percent off no-fleece-throw kits and 70 percent off the entire stock of anti-pill fleece.

Sears

Sears is gearing up for a VIP sale on Wednesday before Brown Thursday and Black Friday. Sears will be open regular store hours on Wednesday for VIP sales, and it will be open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving and from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday.

Sales start Wednesday with a VIP event for people to get an early jump on sales. Sales will occur Thursday from 6 to 11 p.m., and separate sales will occur Black Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday will host doorbuster sales from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and there will be five-day specials through Monday.

Special financing will also be available for 36 months with a Sears card on anything over $299.

Austin store owner Corey Squier said the store’s sales usually consist of tools, but the last few years sales have geared toward larger items.

RadioShack

RadioShack’s Black Friday sales will start on Thanksgiving and run through Saturday. On Thursday, the store will open at 8 a.m. and close at noon, and reopen at 5 p.m. and stay open until midnight. On Friday, the store will open at 6 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Sales will last all day each day through Saturday.

Some of the big sales at Radio Shack include the Samsung Galaxy S5, which will be free with a two-year contract; a portable blue-tooth speaker for $39.99; and Beats headphones for $69.99 after a mail-in rebate.

Shopko

Shopko’s Black Friday starts early with a “Beat the Rush” sale Thursday morning. Shopko opens Thanksgiving Day at 7 a.m. and closes down at 1 p.m. It will reopen on Thursday at 6 p.m. and won’t close until Black Friday at 11 p.m. It is open on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Thursday will feature a “Beat the Rush” sale from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. At 6 p.m., the main sale opens, which features more than 850 items on sale, and runs until noon on Black Friday. Saturday will also feature a special, one-day sale. All sales are while supplies last.

Shopko’s sales include a 39-inch Seiki 4K Ultra HD LED TV, Disney’s “Frozen” toys, bedding, clothing, gold and silver jewelry, a Polaroid 7-inch dual-core tablet bundle, Skull Candy Uprock headphones, family outerwear and more.

Thanksgiving, Black Friday hours

Target: 1701 18th Ave. NW: Opens at 6 p.m. on Thursday to 10 p.m. on Friday

Runnings: 1400 18th Ave. NW: Opens at 5 a.m.-9 p.m. on Black Friday.

Younkers: Oak Park Mall: 6 p.m. on Thursday to 10 p.m. on Friday

Hibbett Sports: 1004 18th Ave. NW, Suite D: 6 p.m. to midnight on Thanksgiving, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on black Friday

Gamestop: 1906 8th St. NW: 12 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday (9 p.m. closing time subject to change)

Walmart: 1000 18th Ave. NW: Deal events starting at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday and at 6 a.m. on Friday.

Rooms and Rest: 1700 17th St. NW: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday. Several Black Friday deals started on Nov. 11.

Jo-Ann Fabric: 1700 17th St. NW: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.

Sears: 1301 18th Ave NW, Oak Park Mall: VIP sales staring Wednesday, 6 to 11 p.m. on Thursday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

RadioShack: 1702 17th St. NW: : 8 a.m. to noon, 5 p.m. to midnight on Thursday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday.

Shopko: 1209 18th Ave. NW: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday and 6 p.m. Thursday to 11 p.m. Friday.