Man spends 13th consecutive Thanksgiving camped outside Best Buy in Jacksonville

Lines are growing outside stores in Jacksonville and the surrounding area on Thanksgiving.

We spoke with a man who said he's been sleeping in a tent outside a Best Buy on Blanding Blvd. since Monday.

James Smith said he's been camping outside stores to get good deals on Black Friday for 13 years.

He said he began doing it years ago because the deals were so good. His said his mom would often go down south for Thanksgiving, so would have his friends bring him food.

He said the deals the past couple of years haven't been the best, but he continues the tradition because he enjoys it.

He said he saves up and buys all of his gifts for the year on Black Friday.

He is waiting outside the Best Buy to get a good deal on a TV.

He said during more than a decade of Thanksgivings spent outside stores, Smith has watched opening hours inch earlier and earlier, taking away from family tradition.

"Unless your whole family is willing to make a sacrifice and celebrate early or late so that you can go shopping, yeah, it ruins it,” he said.

Cox Media Group