‘Midnite’ shoppers crowd Cedarhurst

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An estimated 4,000 shoppers poured onto the commercial streets of Cedarhurst on motzei Shabbos, creating a festive atmosphere as they celebrated the American tradition of “Black Friday” — on a Saturday night.

“The event was a great success,” proclaimed Teri Schure, executive director of the Cedarhurst Business Improvement District.

“In addition to providing grreat shopping deals, the evening served as a social and community-event event,” she said.

Because Black Friday was also nearly the year’s shortest erev Shabbos, Five Towns’ Torah-observant shoppers had little time to hunt for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving when Americans typically crowd shopping malls and downtown business districts. To compensate, Cedarhurst offered an opportunity to shop after Shabbos had ended.

“Other local towns, cities or villages would be hard-pressed to garner anything close to that number of shoppers for a four-hour event,” Schure said.

Another midnight madness holiday event is set for Saturday, Dec. 17, from 8 pm to midnight. Fifty-one Cedarhurst merchants have already said they’d participate, and more are expected to join, Schure said.