Belk employee Darius Davis uses a megaphone to talk to the line of customers waiting to get into the store Thursday. (Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat)

Thanksgiving Day bargain hunters line up in front of the Natchez Mall Thursday before Belk opened its doors at 4 p.m. (Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat)

Thanksgiving Day bargain hunters line up in front of the Belk store at the Natchez Mall Thursday afternoon before the store opened at 4 p.m. Belk offered gift cards to the first 250 customers, including one card worth $1,000. (Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat)

Belk employees, reflected in the store floor, wait to open the doors for Thanksgiving shoppers at 4 p.m. Thursday. (Ben Hillyer / The Natchez Democrat)