ANKENY, Iowa — Over 1,000 people braced the freezing temperatures and waited in line at the Fleet Farm in Ankeny to go Black Friday shopping, according to the store manager.

Shoppers said the Ankeny Fleet Farm is a hot spot every Black Friday, and that rang true when the line stretched along the side of the store’s exterior in below-freezing temperature. The customers at the very front of the line arrived at around 2:40 a.m. and waited until the store opened at 5 a.m.

Kenny Skinner-Havens of Newton was at the front of the line with his friends. Two hours into his wait, he said “[I’m feeling] cold, tired. I did not sleep.” Thirty minutes later, the doors opened and he was inside.

His advice for others hoping to grab deals on Black Friday was simple: “Survival of the fittest.”

Many shopping at Fleet Farm came for the popular giveaway, where the store gives the first 500 customers a plush toy. Every year, they change the animal. This year they were giving away a penguin.

The toy is what attracted Arkansas resident Randy Kaelke. He drives from his home in Arkansas to Ankeny, Iowa every year just for the plush toys at Fleet Farm on Black Friday. He has a collection and enjoys adding to it. This year, he arrived just after midnight and stayed in his car until others started lining up around 2:40 a.m.

“I’m here five minutes and then I’m going home,” said Kaelke.

When the doors opened, Kaelke was in-and-out of the store, ready to start his eight-hour drive back to Arkansas.

Fleet Farm’s supply of plush toys lasted about an hour, according to store manager Kirk Sackett.

Sackett says the preparation for Black Friday takes a month, but every year, they’re blown away by the community support when they see long lines.

“It’s fantastic. We have a lot of loyal customers… We love having these customers here,” he said.

It took around twenty-minutes for everyone who was waiting on line to make it inside.

Customers, like Kristin Goodrich of Missouri, were shopping with family. Goodrich has family that lives in Iowa and every year they go shopping at Fleet Farm after Thanksgiving. She said the deals are what attract them.

She purchased items like dog beds, hunting gear, pecans, and more.

Fleet Farm will be open until 9 p.m. on Black Friday.

Fleet Farm shoppers got an early start to their Black Friday shopping, and many had plans to head to other stores.

Daniel and Jessica Bloom of West Des Moines were headed to Menards after their trip to Fleet Farm. “The key is little sleep,” said Jessica in response to how they will keep up with their shopping plans.

Here are the hours for local stores Black Friday shoppers are expected to go to.

• Menards: 6 a.m.
• Southridge Mall: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Valley Junction: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Outlets of Des Moines: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Jordan Creek: 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Valley West Mall: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
• Merle Hay Mall: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.

This comes as the National Retail Federation says a record 183.4-million shoppers will hit stores in-person and online between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday. The top reason they say people shop is for holiday deals and tradition.

A recent survey the NRF conducted found that clothing is the number one gift category this year for customers followed by gift cards, and then toys.