30 Stores That Refuse to Stay Open on Thanksgiving

Give your business to retailers that like to give their employees time off to spend with family

By Jenna Mullins Nov 25, 2014 4:27 PMTags
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Many retailers want to get a jump on the official start of the holiday shopping season by not only opening early on Black Friday, but by opening its doors on Thanksgiving. Hell, some of them are just staying open all Thanksgiving Day, because do employees really need to be with their families during this special time of togetherness?

Yes. Yes, they do. But hey, someone has to point people in the direction of the Blu-rays that are now 45 percent off!

If you are ditching your family to wait in line at Walmart, you should really think about your life choices. And to those companies making their employees work on Thanksgiving, even if it's just in the evening, instead of letting them spend some time with their family: Shame on you.

But we all know that people will be shopping this weekend, so how about giving your business to stores that respect their employees enough to give them a full holiday off? Whenever you do start shopping, you should take your money to the stores that care more about treating their employees are people instead of staying open an extra day to move more products.

Do the right thing and boycott the stores that are staying open on Thanksgiving (lookin' at you Kmart, Target, Old Navy and Macy's), and do your buying at these stores that stay closed:

1. Ace Hardware

"Looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with your family? We are too!" wrote the company on its Facebook page this time last year. And they'll be doing just that in 2014.

2. American Girl

"Our stores have never been open on Thanksgiving, so this is not a new decision for us," a spokeswoman told The Huffington Post.

3. Barnes & Noble

This message is posted on the company's website: "We will be closed Thanksgiving Day, November 27 so that our booksellers can be with their family and friends. We will re-open on Friday, November 28."

4. Bed, Bath & Beyond

If you need stuff for your bedroom, bathroom or beyondroom on Thanksgiving...you're S.O.L. 

5. Big 5 Sporting Goods

Big 5 will be closed on Thanksgiving day, but it will open bright and early on Black Friday at 5 a.m.

6. BJ's Wholesale Club

"Consistent with our company values, BJ's Wholesale Club will, once again, remain closed on Thanksgiving Day," said Laura Sen, President & CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club. "To give our team a well-deserved holiday, our home office, 206 clubs and three distribution centers will be closed, allowing our 25,000 dedicated Team Members the time they deserve to celebrate all that they are grateful for in the company of family and friends."   

7. Burlington Coat Factory

The factory o' coats (and so much more) won't be opening its doors until 6 a.m. on Friday.

8. REI

REI confirmed with ThinkProgress that they will remain closed on Thanksgiving, and while Black Friday opening hours vary by location, every store will be open by 8 a.m.

9. Costco

Costco, we love you for so many reasons. Staying closed on Thanksgiving so your employees can enjoy family time is just one of them. They'll be open Friday at 9 a.m. with free cookbooks!

10. Crate & Barrel

Sorry, neither Crates nor Barrels will be available on Thanksgiving.

11. Dillard's

"We choose to remain closed on Thanksgiving in longstanding tradition of honoring of our customers' and associates' time with family," a Dillard's spokesperson told ThinkProgress.

12. DSW

DSW is a VIP in our books due to its policy to stay closed during Thanksgiving. Did you like our word play? You're welcome. DSW released a statement on Facebook about family coming first, and promising that no store will be open before 7 a.m. on Friday.

13. GameStop

"We believe it's the right decision not only for our employees, but also for our customers. Enjoy this time with your loved ones and we'll see you on Black Friday," spokeswoman Jackie Smith told HuffPost.

14. Home Depot

"Our stores will be closed on Thanksgiving," the company wrote on Twitter. "Take time to enjoy food, family and friends, and we'll see you early Friday morning."

15. Jo-Ann Fabrics

"We ask a lot from our Team Members during the holidays, and Thanksgiving Day is a valued tradition for many families. We believe it is important for our Team Members to be able to spend this time with their loved ones," said CEO Travis Smith.

16. Lowe's

The home improvement store will open its doors on Friday at 6 a.m.

17. Marshalls

"We feel strongly about our employees spending Thanksgiving with their families and we don't anticipate this changing in the future," said a spokesperson for TJX, the company that owns both Marshalls and T.J. Maxx.

18. T.J. Maxx

"Our stores will be closed on Thanksgiving so our Associates can enjoy the holiday with family and friends," T.J. Maxx confirmed on Twitter. 

19. Menards

"As a family-owned company, Menards believes that Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness, which should be celebrated with all those we hold dear," spokesman Jeff Abbott said.

20. Neiman Marcus

Neiman Marcus will open its doors no earlier than 8 a.m. on Black Friday.

21. Nordstrom

"Over the years, our tradition has been to be closed on Thanksgiving and to unveil our holiday trim the following morning department store annouced earlier this month," the company announced in late October. "Our employees work especially hard during the holiday season and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families."

22. Petco

As a store that makes its business on the idea that pets are family too, it's nice to see Petco honoring their human employees by staying closed on Thanksgiving.

23. Pier 1

Pier 1 is part of the Not Open on Thanksgiving Cool Kids club (best name ever, right?) and making sure employees have their own family time.

24. Publix

Publix is just saying "nope" to making employees work on a day that is meant for family and turkey. You go, Publix! Four for you, Publix!

25. Saks

As listed on its website, Saks will be closed on Thanksgiving, but you can still get crazy-good deals come Black Friday.

26. Sam's Club

Sam's Club is not only closed on Thanksgiving, but they also stay closed on Easter, Christmas and Memorial Day.

27. Sierra Trading Post

The Boycott Black Thursday Facebook page has confirmed that Sierra Trading Post will keep its doors closed on Thanksgiving. You can follow that page for a list of more stores that let its employees have Thanksgiving off.

28. Sur La Table

This store (which is heaven for foodies), will be closed on Thanksgiving, but you can still shop the sales early on Black Friday. Hours depend on store location

29. Talbots

Talbots posts its holiday calendar on its website, and thankfully, Thanksgiving day has a giant "CLOSED" notice on it. 

30. True Value

True Value? More like True Class Acts for making sure employees get Thanksgiving off, right?!

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone! And remember to give your hard-earned money to stores that allow its workers some well-deserved time off during this time of year.