As most of the Washington region’s residents slip blissfully into a turkey-induced sleep Thursday night, thousands of hard-core shoppers will be working off their Thanksgiving dinners at the mall for the earliest start ever to Black Friday’s doorbusters.

Stores such as Macy’s, Target and Best Buy are starting their Black Friday hours at midnight, up from the traditional early opening of 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. for most stores and area malls. Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which started the midnight opening trend, is one-upping its competition and opening Walmarts at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving.