Hundreds Wait Outside Eagan's Target Store For Cities 97 Sampler CD

The cold temperatures outside didn't stop hundreds of people from lining up and huddling together at Eagan's Target for the Cities 97 Sampler Volume 22 compact disc release at 8 a.m. Thursday.

"We were here since 1 a.m. We spent the night in a pink tent in the parking lot," Victoria Stromme, who was first in line with her friend, Talisha Wickberg, said.

Local radio station Cities 97 has been partnering with area Target stores for the past 22 years. Since the CD's debut in 1989, Cities 97 has raised over $8 million for local charities.

The Cities 97 Sampler CD features Studio C specials, including Kandi by One Eskimo and 7 Years by Cedar Avenue. This year it costs $24.97 and 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward Minnesota Charities, such as the Animal Humane Society, Second Harvest Heartland and Make-A-Wish Minnesota.

"We're glad to showcase this event. We're a local company that wants to do what it can to better the community that it's in," said Brenton Balvin, Eagan Target's executive team lead.

Eagan Target had approximately 800 of the 33,000 sampler CDs released by Cities 97 to give to eager customers. According to Balvin, each store received a different amount of CDs. Once the store is out of the CD, they're out for good. As of 8:20 a.m., there were only about 200 remaining copies and everyone who waited in line was able to obtain at least one.

Before Target opened its doors, fans shared stories and tried to stay warm.

"We've been doing this for the past six years. This is something my friend and I always plan to do together," Burnsville resident Jack Stromgren said. "We've been here since 5:15 a.m. Our wives think we're crazy."

"I'm most excited about finally walking into the store and getting warm," Cities 97 fan Jennie Deziel said.

Longtime Cities 97 fan, Kim Robertson, now has all 22 copies of the sampler CD. She said getting a good place in line at Target for the CD's release is something she does every year.

"I keep coming because I have all of the [CDs]. Why stop now?" Robertson said.

"Since we were the first one's here this year and it was our first year doing this, we were wondering where we should setup and how this worked," Stromme said. "The next people in line didn't come until 3:30 a.m."

"The fun part was staying up all night in the freezing cold. Oh, and sleeping in a tent on concrete," Wickberg said with a smile. "It was definitely a new experience."

"My husband doesn't like to come to this, but I enjoy meeting people in line," Cities 97 fan Shelley Olson said.

Even though Balvin has only bought the CD once in the past three years, he enjoys seeing excited fans rushing into the store with huge grins pasted on their faces each year.

"It's a fun anticipation when I come in to Target in the morning and see all the people [waiting in line]," Balvin said.

As customers continued to flow through the store's entrance, Target employees could only wonder what this year's Black Friday will bring.