Mall stores must open on Thanksgiving Day

Simon Property Group Inc., the largest mall owner in the U.S., is bucking a trend in which some retail landlords are pressuring stores to open on Thanksgiving.

Still, there’s been an expanding list in recent years of big chains and shopping centers that open at least part of the day. Owner Andrew Kryliouk says he’d rather not work on Thanksgiving, but like other retailers in the mall, he’s required to open his store. This year, JCPenney will try to one-up its competitors by opening at 3 p.m. Eight employees will be working, and if this Thanksgiving is like last year’s holiday, they’ll have their hands full. As it has for almost 30 years, Walmart will be open 24 hours. The national Retail Federation reports that holiday spending was up four percent from the previous year. “It is not going to go away…”

Retailers that open Thanksgiving want to have first crack at customers’ wallets and increase their chances of capturing shoppers’ dollars.

Some Black Friday sales are creeping even earlier into Thanksgiving this year. “It’s a day for families to be together, and the people that have to work should get to be with their families”. Yet, retailers have already given customers several good reasons to start their holiday shopping earlier, he said. Instead, they are directing customers to their websites to shop from home.

So, Amerosi’s stores will be open 6 p.m.to midnight.

This year, Staples, which was open on Thanksgiving the past two years, made a decision to be closed. The stores will close at 1 a.m. and then reopen at 8 a.m. on Black Friday with a second round of doorbuster deals including $120 off an 11.6-inch MacBook Air and a $500 TV and Xbox One gaming package.

Boscov’s stores will open on Thanksgiving from 6 p.m.to 1 a.m. and reopen on Black Friday from 6 a.m.to 10 p.m.

Nordstrom, Barnes and Noble, Gamestop, Costco and REI are among those staying closed on Thanksgiving Day.