Black Friday is upon us.

As hordes of bargain-hunting shoppers descend on local stores in the wee hours of the morning on the day after Thanksgiving, officials at one of the area's busiest malls are ready.

For the first time ever, Kohl's and JCPenney are opening at 3 a.m., said Regina Verdico, director of marketing and business development at Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles.  Target and Sears will open at 4 a.m., and shoppers will have access to the mall stores as early as 4 a.m. for Bath & Body Works and Toyland, she added.

View the mall's store directory and map here and holiday coupons here.

"Black Friday traditionally draws high traffic and a spike in retail sales at Golf Mill Shopping Center," Verdico said in an e-mail. "Several of our retail partners offer great discounts to help draw traffic and give shoppers more incentive to shop at Golf Mill."

The deals

It has been widely reported that Black Friday offers extreme deals on everything from televisions to toys to trinkets.

So what can shoppers look forward to locally?

For starters:

* Beginning at 6 a.m., shoppers can get a free ticket to Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo with a same-day purchase. Get one free ticket to Holiday Magic when you spend $100 or more at Golf Mill Shopping Center from 6 a.m.-12 p.m. (receipts for purchases made at 3 a.m. will be honored as well). Spend $150 or more and get two free tickets. Tickets are available at the customer service center, only while supplies last. Limit two free passes for each customer. 

* Free treats from 7 a.m.-10 a.m. from Cinnabon at the food court (one for each customer).

* JCPenney has announced its largest Black Friday sale ever.

While the retailer's corporate headquarters couldn't give estimates for crowd size, spokesman Joey Thomas said JCPenney added about 30,000 positions companywide to accommodate the expected increase in shoppers and sales during the holiday season.

"This is a slight increase over last year," he wrote in an e-mail.

The store is offering more than 300 Doorbuster specials,, which cabn be downloaded from here.

"The economy is continuing to challenge customers to shop smarter, and this plays to JCPenney's strengths," Thomas said.

* Don't forget about the lighter side. While there may be sweet deals on electronics, clothing and toys, Things Remembered has sales on jewelry and personalized keepsakes up to 50 percent, said store manager Angie Przybylski. Some of the sales, including the discounts on sterling silver jewelry, come with free gifts.

The store will be open at 6 a.m., Przybylski.  She encourages people to visit the store to "give a little something special" to holiday gifts.

"We'll be here with bells on," joked Przybylski.

"Well, maybe not with bells on, because that could get kind of loud," she added, "but it will be a good day. We've got some sales ready and some great pieces."