Major Retailers Buck Holiday Shopping Trend, Plan To Stay Closed On Thanksgiving Day
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Some major retailers are reversing a trend and vowing to stay closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Several big malls across the country and chain stores will stay dark until Black Friday morning.
As CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reported, pre-Black Friday sales have already began at P.C. Richard and Son, but its 66 showrooms will close on Thanksgiving Day -- a tradition they say customers appreciate.
"They're all thanking us for being closed. They understand family values, and that people should be home on this special day to be with their friends and family," Pat Dehner, P.C. Richard and Son, explained.
This year their Black Friday store openings have been pushed an hour later.
The fashion chain Denny's is also bucking the pre-Black Friday frenzy.
"We just feel family is very important and all our employees should be home with their families on Thanksgiving, and that's why we are not opening," Aileen Schreiber explained.
Web Extra: Stores That Won't Be Open On Thanksgiving Day
Many malls and chains now open on Thanksgiving, some as early as 3 p.m.
Marketing consultant Danielle Costa said Black Friday shopping has morphed into weeks, and retailers really don't lose out by closing for one day.
"Not only do you have people that are shopping for a longer period of time, but you also have those who are doing so online," she explained.
Shoppers seem happy with the move.
"Thanksgiving gives us a perfect time to be home with our family, not to have to be out doing buying, shopping, there are 364 other days we can do that," Dara Rubenstein said.
"I wouldn't want to work on Thanksgiving and it puts pressure on people, because you feel like you have to be there when you want to be with your family," Kristen Paradeses added.
Simon Malls is going both ways. Its Walt Whitman Mall is closed on Thanksgiving, while Roosevelt Field and Smithhaven will open from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
"To accommodate the needs of our shoppers with different preferences and schedules...With only four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas and Hanukkah, many customers want to get the season started," the company said in a statement.
Retailers said they let workers volunteer to work on Thanksgiving and often pay overtime. However some employees said it's not always optional.
Major Thanksgiving store openings began across the country in 2011.
