Many Windsorites were hoping to cash in on some good deals as stores across the region offered Black Friday sales.

What started out as an American Thanksgiving tradition has now been adopted in Canada, especially in border towns like Windsor.

Devonshire Mall is expecting over 40,000 people on Friday. The parking lot was jammed with cars by mid-morning.

“The changes in the Canadian dollar is just another reason to keep shoppers in Canada,” says Chris Savard, general manager of Devonshire Mall.

Over at Windsor Crossing Outlet Mall, shoppers were lined up inside the stores to pay for purchases. Samsonite manager Rhonda Fabischek says Black Friday has become one of their busiest days of the entire retail year.

For anyone returning from shopping in the Uniter States, the Canada Border Services Agency has created a duty calculator. Travellers can type in purchases and it will estimate the amount of duty and taxes owing.