Target to open stores at 6 pm on Thanksgiving

And with Thanksgiving emerging as the fastest-growing online sales day of the holiday season, retailers are also likely counting on being able to ring up big sales in that channel from shoppers who want an earlier start to gift-buying. It was the first time in years Target did not move up its holiday opening times. Stores will then stay open until either 11 p.m. or midnight on Friday evening.

But not all retailers are rushing to open on Thanksgiving Day.

While retailers’ Black Friday and Thanksgiving store hours have led to protests and complaints for years, companies say they are simply responding to customer demand. A social media campaign encouraged other people to join in doing something other than shopping on Black Friday. Staples and H&M, which were both open last year for Thanksgiving, have announced that they won’t bother opening on the holiday this year. Macy’s is also offering door buster deals on Saturday, November 28, from 7:00 AM to 1:00PM.

Through Wednesday, J.C. Penney is also offering Veterans Day deals that include free shipping with purchases of at least $99, as well as anywhere from 15% to 20% with code 4RVETS, according to its website.

Every year, millions of Americans take advantage of Thanksgiving and Black Friday since these two offer them a lot of discounts on nearly everything they purchase ahead of the holiday season.

Opens at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Many Charlotte-area malls, like SouthPark, Carolina Place and Northlake will also open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, with a few tenants remaining open through the night and into Black Friday.

Jeremy Johnson, a freshman pre-business major and an employee at the Nike Factory Store in Great Lakes Crossing, never did Black Friday shopping because of the chaos that comes with it. However, Target will keep Black Friday special by offering an incentive to shoppers.

GameStop will open at 12:01 a.m. on Black Friday. Plus, the device isn’t included in the huge discounts that Target will unleash once Black Friday officially starts on Thanksgiving.

REI’s decision to go dark on Black Friday doesn’t mean there aren’t good deals to be found from the outfitter.