Besides the shops, another very busy place on Christmas Eve was the grocery stores.

Raymond Stockard, the manager at Food City in Bristol, Virginia said most folks were getting last minute items and not doing really big shopping.

The most popular items for the day including turkeys, hams, all the fixings, pies and baked goods, and of course, shrimp. "People like to have it at holiday get-togethers. It's a good finger food and can be served as an appetizer," Stockard said.

Food City will be closed on Christmas Day and will reopen on Wednesday with normal business hours.