WASHINGTON — A battle is brewing over Thanksgiving Day and it has nothing to do with football.

The “Black Friday Creep,” where more stores are opening on the holiday, is keeping some shoppers and store employees away from their families and friends.

Kmart is among a growing number of retail stores that are open Thanksgiving Day. This year the retailer opens at 6 a.m., but at least one person has been waiting in line since 4 a.m.

Woodbridge, Va., resident Toni Tate says she plans to knock out “a whole lot of holiday shopping” Thursday morning.

Tate says she has no problem the “Black Friday Creep.”

“I’m definitely good with that because it does help and you beat the crowds,” she says.

She’s not alone among this crowd of about 30 shoppers who waited in line for Kmart to open.

“I wish it would go back to regular Black Friday, but I enjoy it,” says Newport News, Va., resident Stayce Sedgwick.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter.