Last-minute Christmas shoppers take advantage of holiday hours, discounts

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Saturday is the final day of shopping before Christmas, and just a handful of stores remained open for the evening.

Still, the Mag Mile was bustling with shoppers. With just hours to go before stores closed, shoppers were out in force, searching for that perfect gift.

"I'm looking for a specific gift for the wife and of course it's under a rock somewhere. And we are way across town trying to find it so this is my last hope," said Marcus Brady, a shopper from Oakbrook.

While some, like Brady, view shopping on Christmas Eve as a bit too stressful, others relished in it, admitting wholeheartedly that they do this every year.

"We always wait till the last minute," said Rob Bass.

Of course, it's also a matter of saving extra cash that leads some shoppers to wait, knowing full well retailers will usually slash prices just before the holiday.

"There are good last minute deals. Everything is like half off," said Dodge Sauser.

Many stores remained open on Christmas Eve to accommodate procrastinators like Sauser. Macy's, Best Buy, Kohl's and Bed Bath & Beyond are open until 6 p.m. Toys R Us closes at 9 p.m., while Target, K Mart and Big Lots close at 10 p.m.

If you're still missing groceries for Christmas dinner, Whole Foods will be open until 8 p.m. Trader Joe's and Walmart will close at 6:00 p.m.

For serious procrastinators, CVS and Walgreens will be open on Christmas Day.