Target will no longer open its stores on Thanksgiving Day, making permanent a shift to the unofficial start of the holiday season that was suspended during the pandemic.
A Target store is shown in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Target says having its stores closed on Thanksgiving will be the new normal, permanently ending a tradition that it embraced for years. The move, announced Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, comes as the Minneapolis-based discounter and other retailers including Walmart and Macy's will be closed for the second Thanksgiving in a row.
“What started as a temporary measure driven by the pandemic is now our new standard — one that recognizes our ability to deliver on our guests’ holiday wishes both within and well beyond store hours,” Target CEO Brian Cornell wrote in a note to employees. “You don’t have to wonder whether this is the last Thanksgiving you’ll spend with family and friends for a while, because Thanksgiving store hours are one thing we won’t ‘get back to’ when the pandemic finally subsides.
Macy's, which will not open its stores on Thanksgiving for the second year in a row, said that its curbside pickup service will be available at select locations. It also noted that it hasn't announced future plans but “we lean into what our customers as well as colleagues tell us is important to them on these decisions."
The holiday shopping season started to creep into Thanksgiving Day 20 years ago when retailers began kicking off sales into the wee hours of the morning on Black Friday. Ten years later, Target and other major stores opened their doors on the holiday itself, creating a new shopping tradition. Big retailers suffered blowback from critics who said thousands of people were forced to work rather than being with family during the holiday. Crowds started to also diminish for Thanksgiving Day in recent years, too, and the number of retail chains and malls, including Mall of America in Minnesota, stopped the practice. That whittled the number of stores open on the holiday down to well under 20 major chains, excluding pharmacies and grocers that remain open for a least for a few hours.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Target to keep stores closed on Thanksgiving for goodNEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer open its stores on Thanksgiving Day, making permanent a shift to the unofficial start of the holiday season that was suspended during the pandemic. To limit crowds in stores, retailers last year were forced to turn what had become a weekend shopping blitz into an extended event, with holiday sales beginning as early as October.
Read more »
Target Will Permanently Shutter On Thanksgiving — See Which Other Stores Are Closing Ahead Of Black FridayMany retailers are staying closed on Thanksgiving for a second year in a row.
Read more »
Target closing stores on Thanksgiving permanently, extending practice started amid COVIDMany retailers saw strong sales last year after being forced to rethink the traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season by offering extended sale events.
Read more »
Target Will Keep Stores Closed Every Thanksgiving—See Which Other Stores Are Closing For The HolidayTarget Will Keep Stores Closed Every Thanksgiving— See Which Other Stores Are Closing For The Holiday:
Read more »
Target Plans To Keep Stores Closed On Thanksgiving For GoodTarget is the first major retailer to make such a permanent move during the pandemic. Experts say its decision could push other retailers to follow in its path.
Read more »
Target to keep stores closed on Thanksgiving for goodTarget is the first major retailer to make such a permanent move during the pandemic.
Read more »