"Black Friday" emerged as a resounding success in Greece this week, as several store chains and the major shopping malls reported record sales and long lines of shoppers waiting to pass through their doors, an unprecedented sight especially in a recession-plagued economy.
The "shopping custom" was recently imported from the United States, where retailers ostensibly mark down prices to almost wholesale level a day after Thanksgiving -- always celebrated on the last Thursday of November.
On this other side of the counter, merchants and retailers are given a major opportunity to clear out stock for the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holidays.
Stores in Athens and Thessaloniki, mainly electronic appliance and technology outlets, reported the longest lines to enter or pay at the cash register. Conversely, the "super shopping day" also drew criticism, including a front-page vilification by leftist ruling SYRIZA's affiliated daily newspaper, "Avgi".
