The nation’s largest shopping mall is taking a stand against the growing Christmas-creep trend this Thanksgiving by closing most of its operations until 5 a.m. on Black Friday — the day after America’s big turkey feast.
For the first time in 24 years, the Mall of America’s movie theaters and its amusement park — Nickelodeon Universe — will close on the holiday, according to the StarTribune newspaper.
According to the StarTribune, the Bloomington, Minnesota, mall is hoping its 520-plus stores will choose to remain closed to shoppers on Thanksgiving — although the stores have the option to open.
Jill Renslow, the Mall of America’s senior vice president of marketing and business development, tells the StarTribune that the mall’s move is an effort to “bring that special magic back to Black Friday.” Renslow adds:
“We’ve been talking about this for months, looking at the numbers, looking at the pros and the cons. We’re excited to give this day back to our employees so they can celebrate with their families.”
The mall joins a growing list of retailers bucking “Christmas creep” — a controversial trend for stores to open and offer Black Friday-type discounts on the Thanksgiving holiday itself, rather than opening early the day after for the official kickoff to the holiday shopping season. A 2015 survey revealed that nearly 2 out of 3 consumers say they hate or dislike retailers being open on Thanksgiving.
“Given its size and status, the Mall of America [closure on Thanksgiving] could inspire other malls and stores to follow suit,” says the Associated Press.
What do you think of the mall’s decision to stay closed on Thanksgiving? When do you do your holiday shopping? Sound off below or on our Facebook page.
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