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Grocery Stores Aren't The Only Shops Feeling The Thanksgiving Eve Rush

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The day before Thanksgiving means big business for several local businesses.

Dec. 23 is actually the busiest day of the year at Rainbow Foods in St. Louis Park, but Thanksgiving Eve is a very close second.

"I can't stand on the floor for a second without three or four people asking me a question," said manager Woody Hunt.

Jay Wolkenbrod and his wife made their annual pilgrimage Wednesday to the grocery store for Thanksgiving. Forty cases of fresh turkeys will be sold, not to mention all the fixings.

"Everything," said Wolkenbrod. "The potatoes, the celery, the pie, the stuffing, the salad, and some apple cider."

Wednesday is a big travel day too, and that may mean boarding your dog at Downtown Dogs.

At around 6:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, the "dog mob" begins to arrive at Downtown Dogs in Minneapolis. And by 9 p.m. at night, they're at capacity.

"It's our busiest day of the year," said owner Anne Hendrickson. "Usually we are at about 50 to 60 percent capacity on a weekend and tonight we'll be full. So it's literally double what we normally do."

And at Chicago Lake Liquors, this is nothing compared to New Year's Eve. But there's still a very steady flow of wine and beer heading out the door.

"On a typical weekend, we will maybe do 2,000 to 2,500 customers a day," said general manager Peter Edlund. "And a holiday like this we will get 3,500 to 4,000 people through the door."

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