Dayton skyline | Photo by Soham Parikh | The Wright State Guardian
Major retailers with franchise locations near Wright State University (WSU) have announced closing on Thanksgiving Day. Stores closing during Thanksgiving this year include Walmart, Target, Bath & Body Works, Best Buy and several others.
Stores announcing closures
Chief Executive Officers (CEO’s) have provided customers with a variety of reasons behind their decision to close shop on the holiday this year.
Target, for example, is due to close on Thanksgiving Day after announcing that they will be offering holiday sales starting as early as Oct. 1, both online and in-store.
“When we say you can take advantage of great deals all season long, we really mean it. So kick back, relax and enjoy a long nap after you finish that last piece of Thanksgiving turkey,” said Target CEO Brian Cornell. “This season, you can count on getting extra-big savings without the extra-long lines, with plenty of opportunities to score the best deals on the hottest items both before and after Nov. 26.”
Meanwhile, Bath & Body Works cites the reason for their Thanksgiving Day closure as a way to support their staff through the holidays.
“We’ve closed our stores so our associates can stay home and celebrate with their families,” said a Bath & Body Works corporate representative. “And of course, throughout the rest of the week we’ll be prioritizing safety—from cleaning to sanitizing to following safety guidelines.”
Opinions on closure
Despite how popular Thanksgiving Day shopping has become over the years, it appears as though people are taking the news of these closures rather well.
“I would say [major retailers] should not be open because people should be able to be with their families,” said WSU student Sam May. “[Closures] would also help with Covid.”
While many stores have not directly stated the coronavirus as being the reason for their Thanksgiving Day closure, holiday shoppers wait for Black Friday hours and deals to be announced by these retailers.
