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Some Stores Now Deciding, Publicizing Choice To Stay Closed On Thanksgiving

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's a divisive issue: Should stores be open on Thanksgiving?

More retailers began opening on the holiday in recent years to try to get a head start on holiday sales.

But this year, not only are some other stores making the decision to stay closed, some are publicizing it.

You can't shop at TJ Maxx or Marshall's on Thanksgiving, and their parent company has a TV commercial explaining why: "At TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Home Goods, we're closed on Thanksgiving because family time comes first."

Sporting goods store REI also went public with its decision to be closed not only on Thanksgiving, but also Black Friday.

"We're closing all 143 of our stores, and we're paying our employees to get outside," said REI President Jerry Stritzke.

H&M is another store that announced it'll be closed on Thanksgiving. A sign at the South Side Works location reads that it's because they're thankful for their customers and company family.

"I think they're recognizing they didn't get a big bump in profit," said Point Park Business Professor Elaine Luther.

She believes it has also to do with keeping employees happy, especially at places such as REI where employees' specialized knowledge makes them more valuable.

"It's really tightened up in this better market," said Luther. "It is now an employee market. They make the decision, and it could also be that companies want to hold on to their good employees."

Bed Bath and Beyond, Staples, Nordstrom, Crate and Barrel, Burlington Coat Factory and Costco will all remain closed on Thanksgiving.

As for whether the tide is actually turning, and we could see more stores closed on Thanksgiving in the future, Luther says that depends on what's being sold. She says anyone selling electronics for instance, will always was to open as early as possible to get people's money first.

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