JOY TO THE WHIRL SHOPPERS COME EARLY AND BUY BIG FOR HOLIDAYS.

Byline: Candice Choi Staff Writer

Flush with excitement about filling stockings and fulfilling wishes, Southern California's heartiest shoppers turned out in droves Friday before the sun had risen.

Nearly 1,000 people lined up at the Wal-Mart in Panorama City to haul away everything from flat-screen TVs to giant stuffed animals and bicycles at prices so low they couldn't resist.

``There were only three TVs left,'' said Mike Connolly, who was also buying two DVD players. He had to return for a computer. ``It wouldn't fit in my cart.''

A similar scene was unfolding at stores and malls throughout the region as Christmas shoppers went looking for bargains.

At the Glendale Galleria, crowds gathered outside department stores to stake claim to the door-busters.

``It's the sales and free gifts that drive you,'' said Pam Weber, a wide-eyed shopper who hadn't had a drop of caffeine after arriving at the Glendale Galleria at 5 a.m.

She had hit all the major department store openings and was finally waiting in front of Robinsons-May. At 6:22 a.m., the store was opening late.

A riled-up Hank Sax paced outside, calling up store managers on his cell phone. ``I could've done most of my shopping by now,'' Sax said, before the gates abruptly lifted to cheers.

The throngs of shoppers that shook off hearty Thanksgiving meals for a day of shopping is a positive sign for the economy, experts say.

The National Retail Federation projects a modest 4.5 percent growth in holiday spending this year. In Los Angeles County, that figure will probably be closer to 6 percent, said Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp.

``The bag count is looking really good,'' said Kyser, who was witnessing the chaos unfold at the south end of the county at the Lakewood Center mall. ``People are using their baby strollers to stack up the bags.''

Gift cards and electronics were flying off the shelves the quickest, said Jackie Fernandez, partner in the retail group at Deloitte.

``I saw one woman carrying a trash bag full of iPods,'' said Fernandez, who was stationed at the Glendale Galleria.

Jammed parking lots and long lines of cars turning into Fry's, Best Buy and other electronics retailers gave evidence of the strong demand.

Toys, apparel and gift cards are expected to top most shoppers' lists, analysts say.

Black Friday - the day when many retailers shift from being in the red to profitability - has become ``an event in itself'' over the years, said Keyser. Discounters and department stores are pulling new gimmicks to rally shoppers into early morning sprees.

Target even offered to give shoppers a wake-up call, with pre-recorded messages from Ice-T, Heidi Klum, Darth Vader and others.

``Black Friday's been gaining momentum over the past few years,'' Keyser said. ``It reflects the high level of competition this has come to.''

Turnout was strong at malls across the Valley. At The Oaks in Thousand Oaks, employees took shuttles to free up as many parking spots as possible for customers.

``It's greater than we anticipated,'' said Crim Bremner, marketing manager for The Oaks shopping center.

At the Camarillo Premium Outlets, Tommy Hilfiger and Nike opened at 3 a.m., said marketing manager Michele Rothstein. Lines of 50 to 100 people were forming outside stores well into the afternoon, she said.

Friday's strong turnout could help fan sales throughout the holiday season, Bremner said. ``There's nothing like a good day of sales to get your heart pumping for the rest of the season.''

``Overall, the economy's just doing better and we've seen sales increase over the past year,'' said Diana Fiore, marketing manager for the Antelope Valley Mall.

By early afternoon, the crowds hadn't died down at Valencia Town Center, said general manager Charlie Gill; he didn't expect business to slow down until late evening. ``The parking lots are still full.''

Lines were so long outside KB Toys at the Glendale Galleria that the manager was allowing shoppers inside in shifts into the early afternoon. At Wal-Mart, manager Jorge Lopez said Care Bears and Gameboys sold out an hour after opening.

While discounters attracted the biggest crowds, the scene at Sherman Oaks' Westfield Shoppingtown Fashion Square was a little more subdued.

There was hardly any shoving as women rifled through bins of deeply discounted designer purses at Macy's.

Aleksandra Leon clutched six brightly colored handbags.

``I don't usually come out for this, but I forgot to turn off my alarm last night so I just decided, why not?'' Leon said.

By 6:30 a.m., Juana Marraquian was lugging a giant kitchen set back to her car at the Glendale Galleria so she could return and execute the rest of her game plan.

It was already her fourth trip to the car.

Others weren't as organized.

Two young Apple employees slumped glum-faced on a bench outside. Their manager wanted them to be there at 6 a.m., but he still hadn't arrived to let them in by 6:30.

Encino resident Rachel Ezra had planned on meeting a pal at 6 a.m. Then it became 7 a.m.

Two hours later, her friend finally appeared in Macy's shoe department.

Kristen Strawn drove by a friend's house to pick her up early so they could be at the Glendale Galleria by 5 a.m.

After finding that her friend hadn't rolled out of bed yet, she kept driving.

``She'll probably get here at around 7 or 8,'' Strawn said.

``I'm still not fully here,'' said Eric Mueller, a Los Angeles resident who got to KB Toys late - at 5:15 a.m. - and ended up having to wait for a chance to pay $30 for an $80 karaoke machine his daughter wants.

Brenda Holden bribed her nephew out of bed with promises of new computer equipment.

``I just whispered in his ear 'two gigabytes,''' Holden said.

Matt Peterson, a bleary-eyed Toluca Lake resident, was dragged out of bed to accompany his fiancee, Danielle Fox, on his first trip out for Black Friday. In return, he said, he'll get to pick all the movies this weekend.

``We're watching all R-rated, violent movies,'' he said. ``No love stories.''

Steve Pazanti wasn't thrilled about being dragged out of bed by his girlfriend, Lauren Lewis, either, but it worked out well.

He ended up spending hundreds of dollars on deep discounts by 8 a.m., while his girlfriend didn't find a thing. ``Now I'm the one who's tired and grumpy, and he's getting all this stuff,'' she said.

Candice Choi, [phone]

candice.choi(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Shoppers packed Wal-Mart in Panorama City early Friday morning to get their hands on post-Thanksgiving specials.

(2) Rachel Ezra of Encino shops till she hops, checking the price of a boot she was trying on at Macy's in the Sherman Oaks Fashion Square on Friday morning.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(3) Bargain shoppers line up outside the Glendale Galleria before sunrise Friday.

Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

Box:

AND THEY'RE OFF (see text)

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