The expected throng of Black Friday shoppers standing in line at the Fort Dodge Menards store to rush in at 6 a.m. is nowhere to be seen.

It’s 5:38 a.m. It’s still 10 degrees. It’s still dark.

The first group of bundled shoppers emerges from their warm parked cars to get in line. They arrive at the door; they’re first.

Steph Kroger, of Webster City, was surprised to find herself in that position.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The first group in line Friday at the Fort Dodge Menards store takes a selfie shortly before the doors open at 6 a.m. They are, from left, Steph Kroger, Chelsea Quinteros and Jody Klaver, all of Webster City.

“We’ve never been first before,” she said.

She was shopping with her sister, Chelsea Quinteros, and her mom, Jody Klaver, both of Webster City.

“We rolled in and hopped out,” Klaver said.

The shopping was going to be random.

“We don’t even have a list,” Kroger said. “We just go in, then grab and run.”

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Ava Marie Kirby, 13, does her best to stay warm in the 10-degree temperatures outside the Fort Dodge Menards store shortly before the 6 a.m. door opening for Black Friday. Her sister, Aianne Kirby, 16, at left, and her mom, Jobina Kirby, share the chill. The family is from Fort Dodge.

“We just spend our husbands’ money,” Quinteros added.

The trio just enjoy the day and each other’s company — it’s the social aspect. They start with coffee on the way there, then when they’re done, it’s off to Perkins for breakfast.

Ava Marie Kirby, 13, of Fort Dodge, went shopping with her sister, Aianna Kirby, 16 and her mom, Jobina Kirby.

“This is my second year,” Ava Marie Kirby said. “They’ve been doing it for awhile.”

They were looking for Christmas presents.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The first group in line Friday at the Fort Dodge Menards store waits patiently for 6 a.m. They are, from left, Jody Klaver, Steph Kroger and Chelsea Quinteros, all of Webster City.

“We have a long list,” Jobina Kirby said. “It’s a girls day out.”

It’s 6 a.m. It’s still 10 degrees and it’s still dark.

Bobby Budea, general store manager and designated door man, flips the lock and opens the door.

Chelsea Quinteros is first through the door, followed by hundreds more.

An amazing amount of people had gathered in line in only 20 minutes.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Chuck Nelson, of Webster City, has his arms full Friday morning with the Black Friday bargains he found at the Fort Dodge Menards store.

Chuck Nelson, of Webster City, had his arms full, literally. He carried a full bundle of bargain items. It was his second “shop” of the day. He’d been at Dunham’s for its 4 a.m. opening.

“We do this every year,” Nelson said. “We went to Dunham’s, then we drove around and looked at lights, then we came here. My wife is in here somewhere.”

Nelson observed, the Black Friday shopping isn’t like it used to be; it was one of the things negatively impacted by the COVID pandemic.

His top-of-the-list item?

“A battery powered jump starter,” he said.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
The first group in line Friday at the Fort Dodge Menards store makes it to the checkout after finding their Black Friday bargains. They are, from left, Steph Kroger, Jody Klaver and Chelsea Quinteros, all of Webster City.

His wife?

“I have no idea; she has a list,” he said.

There’s a first through the door, then there’s a first through the register.

This year’s winner of that race wished to remain anonymous.

“I don’t want anybody to know,” he said. “I don’t want anybody to laugh at me.”

It was a photo finish.

“He stepped in front of us,” Steph Kroger said. “I’d have been first.”

Christina Johnson, of Dakota City, paused long enough when she came through the doors to stop and wave.

“We start at Menards,” she said. “It’s our favorite. We shop till we’re out of energy.”

They had successfully scored one of the main door busters, an electric fireplace that serves double duty as a TV stand.

After all the shopping, the family was going to a tree farm.

“We pick out the perfect tree and my husband cuts it down,” she said.

It’s now past 6 a.m. by a bit. It’s probably still 10 degrees outside. The eastern sky is starting to lighten up a bit. A sliver of the moon is just visible.

Menards is now busy. Interesting conversation can be heard in the aisles.

“Amanda,” Mike Fiala, of Gowrie, said. “If you’re going to choose a summer sausage, which one would you choose? Garlic or cheddar.”

The answer, from Amanda Haggard, was simple: “both.”

They had more than just summer sausage. They also purchased several tubes filled with candy and sets of matching red and gray checkered pajamas.

“We have seven kids,” she said. “We appreciate the deals. Besides, how can you pass on a whole tube of bubble gum balls?”

The answer to that?

You can’t.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Fort Dodge Menards sales associate Wayne Salgren gets into the holiday spirit as he makes sure everything is just right Friday morning for the Black Friday shoppers.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
At about 5:40 a.m., the line at the Fort Dodge Menards store wasn't very long, having only formed a few minutes earlier. The early bird Black Friday shoppers had waited in their vehicles instead of freezing in the 10-degree weather.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
A few minutes after the doors opened at 6 a.m., shoppers filled the aisles at the Fort Dodge Menards store looking for Black Friday bargains.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Black Friday shoppers almost emptied the cart corral at the Fort Dodge Menards store. Crew members were kept busy bringing them back in.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen
Christina Johnson, of Dakota City, waves as she makes her way into the Fort Dodge Menards store a few minutes after 6 a.m. for the annual Black Friday sale.