Best Friday After Thanksgiving Sales in Nashville

Nashville's east side in the Hermitage area has really had a retail growth spurt in the last few years. There are some wonderful places to shop and eat now in the Hermitage suburbs. The retail stores that have put down roots in this area have made going shopping so convenient, and we no longer have to go to the large congested malls. Some of my favorite stores are here so it makes the day after Thanksgiving shopping relatively simple.

1. The first stage in planning the big shopping day is to buy the Nashville Tennessean Newspaper on Thanksgiving day if you don't have one delivered. The sale flyers will be plentiful and various stores will list their early bird specials and special Black Friday extended hours.

2. Take the time to go through those flyers and see if any stores have coupons to cut and take with you. Many times there really will be additional savings as well as coupons sent through the mail. I cut those coupons as they arrive and stash them in a special place.

3. Map your shopping trip ahead of time to save time and gas! I like to start with my farthest destination first and work my way back toward home. The first shopping area with great stores is actually the suburb of Donelson, between Nashville and Hermitage on Lebanon Pike. The Kohl's Department Store will be one of the stores offering early bird specials. They will have extended holiday hours through the entire holiday season, with fabulous sales to match. Kohl's has great sales the all year long with 50 percent discounts in almost every department.

4. The strip mall next door to Kohl's (which is still located on Lebanon Pike) has several stores including Target. What a great store! The sales will be plentiful and Target will begin its extended store hours now through Christmas. They usually open by at least 7:00 a.m. on the day after Thanksgiving. There is no way to know if it will be any earlier until nearer that day!

5. The next store I'll be going to is Goody's Family Clothing just a couple of stores up from Target. This is one of my favorite stores for buying denim and casual clothing for men, women and children and they frequently move many items to clearance early. Goody's is a great place to buy juniors fashions too, at fantastic sale prices.

6. Just next door to Goody's Family Clothing is Marshall's. They have pricey brand names at discount prices, but you never know what will be available until you check. They also will get various brand name fragrances at big discounts, so it's definitely a good place to check. They also have some very small housewares and special gift sections. Although it is a relatively small section of the store, whatever is there is very nice and much cheaper than typical retail price.

7. Pier 1 is also in the same shopping strip and will be running great sales. It is a store to grab a gift for someone whom you are not quite sure what to get and still feel sure the recipient will like it. Pier 1 has a fabulous array of candles in all scents, shapes and colors for every decor. It is a great place to find a unique gift and equally tasteful holiday decorations.

8. It's time to head down Lebanon Pike to the Oakwood Commons Shopping Center. There's a new Bed, Bath and Beyond that is a great place to get so many household items, it's not just linens. They will also have great sales and the location is excellent. This shopping center is usually a little less crowded because everyone is down the road at the Super Wal-Mart! Bed, Bath and Beyond always sends coupons in the mail for usually 20 to 30 percent off. Every little bit of savings help!

9. Next to the Bed, Bath and Beyond is another of my favorite stores for discount designer clothing. It is so easy to walk into Ross and walk out with great deals. They do have special clearance racks, but their clothes are discounted any way. Whenever I find clothing in the size I'm looking for, it's better to get it because it will not last. Ross does not have a huge child's clothing department, but what they do carry is fabulous. Adorable designer looks for discount store prices!

10. This next store in the same shopping center is well-kept secret. Peebles Department Store tends to stay in the outskirts or even farther. I don't believe there is a Peebles Department Store anywhere else in Nashville. It reminds me of a smaller version of the former Castner Knott Stores that everyone loved and was bought out long ago here. It is a treasure trove of sales on quality brand names of men, women and children's clothing, shoes, accessories and cosmetics. The sales are great, especially when they move items to clearance racks and offer additional deep discounts from the already low clearance price.