Plaids the word on Loudoun Street Mall

Samantha Anderson of Winchester shops for a knit hat Friday afternoon in front of Raggle Taggle Gypsy Hats on the Loudoun Street Mall. (Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star)

Shoppers walk along the Loudoun Street Mall Friday during the city’s version of Black Friday. (Photo by Scott Mason/The Winchester Star)

Locally owned businesses extended their hours, offered sales and encouraged customers to wear plaid as a celebration of the diversity of independent establishments downtown. While some big-box stores opened Thanksgiving evening, about 10 downtown businesses opened at 6 a.m. for Plaid Friday — with others following a few hours later.