Black Friday starts so early at many retailers, it should really be called Black Thursday. Each year, more national chains open their doors to bargain hunters on Thanksgiving evening.
And that’s not changing this year. A long list of retailers will be open on Thanksgiving this year. Consider it a way for these retailers to get a jump on the holiday shopping season, a season that often means the difference between a profitable year and a rough one for merchants.
The National Retail Federation is predicting a big holiday shopping season in 2016, estimating that consumers will spend 3.6 percent more this November and December than they did last year.
Are you planning to hit the stores this Nov. 24 even before gobbling up a slice of pumpkin pie? Here are some of the major retailers who will be open this Thanksgiving day:
JCPenney stores are opening especially early on turkey day, throwing open their doors at 3 p.m. The retailer’s stores will stay open for 31 straight hours.
Walmart won’t shut its doors at all on Thanksgiving. That’s not overly surprising: The retailer never has. Of course, Walmart is a grocery store, too, so not closing on the holiday makes sense. Need extra cranberries? Walmart is a good choice.
Meijer, like Walmart, will remain open all day on Thanksgiving. Like Walmart, Meijer doubles as a grocery store, so shutting down on Thanksgiving wouldn’t make much sense.
Macy’s is opening one hour earlier this Thanksgiving, welcoming shoppers starting at 5 p.m. for its Black Friday sales.
Target will open to the public at 6 p.m. This, too, isn’t surprising; Target has stuck to this schedule for the last three years.
Best Buy is certainly planning for a busy holiday season, what with customers snatching up the latest electronics each year. The electronics retailer is opening its doors on Thanksgiving Thursday at 5 p.m. The retailer, though, is a little unusual. It will then close at 1 a.m. on Friday before opening for good on the same day at 8 a.m., when its Black Friday sales will start in earnest.
Old Navy is opening early, too, on Thanksgiving. Shoppers can fulfill their denim needs here starting at 4 p.m.
Of course, shoppers don’t need to worry as much about which retailers will be open. They can do plenty of shopping online. You can bet that retailers will offer plenty of bargains on their Web sites starting Thanksgiving Day this year.
