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CINCINNATI - While several stores choose to open early on Thanksgiving Day to get a head start on Black Friday sales for eager shoppers, a growing number of major retailers have said they’ll be closed so employees can spend the day with their families.
Over the past decade, many retail chains have expanded their Black Friday hours earlier and earlier, sometimes into the previous day, to get a head start on the competition.
Among the stores that will officially be closed on Thanksgiving Day 2019, which falls on Nov. 28, are Ace Hardware, BJ’s, Costco, Guitar Center, Hobby Lobby, Homegoods, Lowe’s, Marshalls, Petco, Sam’s Club, Sierra Trading Post, Staples, Stein Mart, T.J. Maxx and True Value, according to BestBlackFriday.com and TheBlackFriday.com, websites that compile annual Black Friday information for consumers.
Bed Bath & Beyond, Bloomingdale’s, The Container Store, Crate & Barrel, H&M, Home Depot, IKEA, JOANN Fabric and Craft Stores, Mattress Firm, PetSmart, Pier 1 and REI will also be closed, according to RetailMeNot.
Other major chains, such as Barnes & Noble and Nordstrom, were predicted to be closed by the websites, based on previous years.
Stores that are confirmed to be open on Thanksgiving Day include Best Buy, CVS, Meijer and Walgreens, BestBlackFriday.com reports, citing direct communication with the retailer.
More than 70 percent of shoppers believe stores should be closed on Thanksgiving Day, a survey conducted by BestBlackFriday.com found.
“The growing trend in online shopping for Black Friday and Cyber Monday continues to reflect that most consumers would rather spend the Thanksgiving holiday at home than out in traffic or shopping among strangers,” the website states.
In 2018, Thanksgiving Day spending reached $3.7 billion in online sales, up 28 percent from 2017, according to MarketWatch.
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