Waterford — The calm and casual atmosphere at the Crystal Mall on Thursday night was a far cry from the pushing and shoving that normally categorizes the beginning of the holiday shopping rush.

By 6:30 p.m., Nelia Starr of Stonington already was done with her shopping at J.C. Penney and Victoria's Secret. She came to get the half-price perfume that Victoria's Secret offers for Black Friday, and she and her son Alex were waiting for the rest of their family to emerge from the store with their pink-striped bags.

"We got right in and out, no lines" she said. "I think it's probably busier tomorrow than today."

According to predictions from Adobe Digital Instincts, which tracks online transactions with major U.S. retailers, Thanksgiving shopping will top $2 billion this year — a 15.6 percent increase over the holiday last year. Shopping over Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday could add up to about $8.4 billion. Sales for all of November and December are slated to reach $91.6 billion — an 11 percent increase over the same period last year.

Chris Bastien, general manager at the mall, said retailers have been working to make sure the stores are stocked in anticipation for the holiday shopping season. Each store had the choice to open at 6 p.m. Thursday with the rest of the mall.

"We don't require the stores to be open on Thanksgiving if they choose not to, but we certainly encourage it because the mall will be open," he said in an interview Wednesday. He said the vast majority chose to open.

Debbie Botelho, director of marketing and business development, said many of the stores that provide services like haircuts chose not to open, and other stores waited until midnight to open. Macy's opened at 5 p.m., and JCPenney opened at 3 p.m. Thursday and will remain open until 10 p.m. Black Friday.

Lines formed and dissipated in front of Victoria's Secret; Botelho said the franchise hired its own security personnel for the evening because its sales are so popular. Hollister also had a line before the gates opened at 6 p.m.

"The phone was ringing off the hook wanting to know when they were opening," she said.

Shell Cramer of Gales Ferry and Jana and Mallorie Geiger of Stonington came to shop as part of an annual tradition.

"We ate with our families, and the guys are home watching football," Jana Geiger added. She said she'll be back out shopping on Black Friday with her husband and Mallorie.

"We come here every year to see what deals are out there," Cramer said.

"It's cheaper to get gifts," Mallorie Geiger said, citing a pair of pajamas last year that was 50 percent off. "I get most of my Christmas shopping done. You can get a gift for someone that's worth a lot more than what you paid for it."

a.hutchinson@theday.com