This year has brought forth changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including changes regarding the holiday shopping season. With more and more retailers focusing on online shopping in order to comply with the safety and social distancing norms, the latest news comes as no surprise.
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Several major stores will be closed on Thanksgiving this year but will open for the Black Friday sales since Thanksgiving is on November 26 and Black Friday on November 27. However, this approach is not entirely new, and it has been a divisive issue for a few years now.
While in the past this decision has been made in order to allow retailers and their associates to get their stores ready for Black Friday or their employees to spend the evening with their families, this year, major retailers have announced to keep their doors closed also in response to the pandemic.
Retailers such as Walmart, Kohl’s, and Target opened their doors for Thanksgiving in the past and thus kicked off their in-store Black Friday event. 2020 is different in so many ways, and the retail world is no exception.
While we’re still waiting for updates and announcements regarding this year’s Black Friday from major retailers, here is a list of stores that have officially announced that they will keep their stores closed on Thanksgiving 2020.
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Academy Sports + Outdoors
It is probably not surprising that Academy Sports + Outdoors has decided on keeping its stores closed on Thanksgiving 2020 since the retailer has done the same last year.
There are various reasons why it has chosen to take this step, and it seems that it is not only an attempt to stop the spread of the virus but also an effort to provide customers as well as team members with the possibility to spend time with family and friends, according to BlackFriday.com.
To make sure that both its customers and employers stay safe, the retailer has already announced that it will provide shoppers with curbside pickup as well as free shipping options.
Bed Bath & Beyond
While this retailer decided on opening its doors on Thanksgiving last year and did so for the first time, it embraced a different approach and announced to keep its stores closed on this year’s Thanksgiving. The retailer made this decision to ensure the safety of its employees and customers and in response to the hard work of its teams.
Best Buy
Although it opened its stores on Thanksgiving 2019, Best Buy has decided to join the other major retailers and keep its stores closed on November 26, 2020. However, the retailer also announced that it will offer earlier deals this year.
Best Buy will also offer more ‘convenient pickup options’ at its stores in order to meet this year’s changes and keep the shopping and shipping process safe. Even if its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, customers and interested shoppers will have the opportunity to shop via the Best Buy App and on BestBuy.com.
BJ’s Wholesale Club
BJ’s is one of the retailers with the longest history when it comes to keeping its stores closed on Thanksgiving, and there will be no exception this year. On October 9, the retailer announced that it will continue its tradition and thus be closed on this year’s Thanksgiving as well.
However, it will start its shopping season on October 13 and 14 with the Beyond Amazing Savings Event that will provide members with limited-time deals on various products, including small appliances, electronics, and toys, just to name a few.
Savings won’t stop here, though, as the retailer will provide members with another chance to stock up on their needs during the Beyond Amazing Savings Event Encore that will take place on October 20 and 21.
Moreover, Black Friday deals will be available earlier this year. The Early Bird Savings event will begin on November 5 and last through November 30, and the Black Friday Savings will be available between November 20 and 30. Plus, from November 26 through November 30, the retailer will offer the 5-Day Deals.
Boscov’s
Even if it was open on last year’s Thanksgiving, Boscov’s has announced that it will be closed this year to provide customers and employees with the possibility to have ‘an uninterrupted Thanksgiving meal’.
Costco
It is no surprise that Costco will be closed on Thanksgiving since it has always been so. There is no announcement regarding its opening hours on Black Friday.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Unlike last year, the retailer has announced that it will be closed on this year’s Thanksgiving, and that includes its stores and distribution centers. The announcement also mentioned the retailer’s intention to pay its store and distribution center employees a 15% pay premium through the end of 2020.
Foot Locker
Even if the retailer will be open on November 25 and 27, it won’t open its doors on Thanksgiving this year. It has not announced its Black Friday opening hours yet.
Home Depot
The announcement that the Home Depot stores will be closed on Thanksgiving is something that many of us expected from the home improvement retailer since this only continues a long tradition.
However, this year’s Black Friday will start at the beginning of November and last through December, so customers will have the possibility to enjoy deals for a longer time and shop both online and in-store.
JCPenney
Unlike last year when it opened its stores on Thanksgiving, JCPenney will also be closed on November 26.
Kohl’s
Citing safety concerns, Kohl’s has also announced that it will keep its stores closed on Thanksgiving. The retailer was open on last year’s Thanksgiving.
Lamps Plus
The retailer has been one of the first to make this announcement and let customers know about its stores being closed on Thanksgiving. It will be open on Black Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., though.
Macy’s
Although it was open on last year’s Thanksgiving, the retailer has also decided to keep its stores closed on November 26, but it will make Black Friday deals available online beginning with November 24 through November 28.
REI
Even if many retailers were closed on Thanksgiving in the last years, too, and continuing this tradition in 2020 is not surprising, REI has decided to keep its stores closed not only on Thanksgiving but also for Black Friday.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club announced that it will close its U.S. stores on Thanksgiving Day to offer its employees the day off.
Target
In a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Target will keep its stores closed on Thanksgiving saying in its announcement that 2020 ‘is not the year for crowds’.
Walmart
In order to thank its employees for their hard work, Walmart will keep its stores closed on Thanksgiving. Furthermore, the retailer also announced that this ‘thank you’ will also include cash bonuses for its employees.
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Other retailers that will remain closed on November 26 include Office Depot, Simon Property Group, Ulta, Under Armour, Williams Sonoma, and this list might be extended in the next few days.