I always thought Thanksgiving should be a day of family, relaxing, and eating. When I was younger, that’s what it was. Everyone talking, sharing memories, and enjoying a delicious meal.

Thanksgiving is not only a day to spend with family, but over the past few years, it’s also become a day to spend shopping. However, things are changing this year. Charlotte will have several stores staying closed on Thanksgiving. The pandemic factors into these closures but also the retail industry and its employees are feeling the full effect of this year’s ongoing worker shortages.

In addition, some stores are closing their doors on Thanksgiving Day because they want their employees to have a day off. Lastly, retailers don’t have much to lose by closing on Thanksgiving (except perhaps some hype).

With the pandemic raging, online spending on Thanksgiving hit a record level last year. This could also be the case this year. Shoppers will likely be happy to shop online on Thanksgiving Day if retailers can keep popular items in stock this year. See which stores below that will remain shuttered on Thanksgiving Day 2021 from RetailMeNot.

• Simon Malls

  Simon Properties, which owns 168 malls and outlets in the U.S., announced on Oct. 8 it would keep all its domestic properties closed on Thanksgiving Day 2021. Properties will open back up for Black Friday. Department stores attached to malls (think Macy’s), can do their own thing, as they generally have their own exterior entrances. However, stores inside the closed malls will remain closed.

• Sam’s Club

  Sam’s Club will be closed on Thanksgiving (that’s nothing new — it stayed closed on Turkey Day even before the pandemic). On Black Friday, it will keep its regular hours, opening at 10 a.m. for regular soppers and at 8 a.m. for Plus members. However, Black Friday deals (Sam’s Club calls them Thankssavings deals) will be live online on Thanksgiving.

• Walmart

  Walmart’s Black Friday sale is one of the most anticipated every year. But stores won’t be open on Thanksgiving in 2021. Walmart announced in June that all its stores will be closed on Nov. 25 as a thank-you to its associates. Expect deals to be shoppable online on Turkey Day, however. Walmart also shared that it is going to be offering some early Black Friday sales throughout, November, with deals dropping in stores at 5 a.m. on Nov. 5 and 12.

• Target

  Target was the first retailer to officially confirm (back in January) that it will remain closed on Thanksgiving 2021. It’s reasoning? Customers preferred it, according to its press release confirming the closure.

• REI

  The outdoor and sporting goods store will be closed on Thanksgiving AND Black Friday this year. That’s typical for REI — it’s remained closed on both days for seven years in a row (while still paying its employees) and encourages shoppers to #OptOutside instead.

• Macy's

  Macy’s will be closed on Thanksgiving, the retailer announced in an Oct. 25 press release. It also announced its Black Friday store hours — 6 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. For those who want to shop early, Macy’s will kick off select Black Friday deals on Nov. 3, with all deals going live online from November 23 to 27.

• Kohl’s

  Kohl’s will be closed on Thanksgiving 2021, the retailer confirmed in a press release back in June. But it promises online deals on Kohl’s.com and via the Kohl’s app.

• JCPenney

  In years past, JCPenney used to be one of the earliest to open on Thanksgiving (as early as 2 p.m.). But stores stayed closed in 2020, and JCPenney has confirmed it will be closed once again on Thanksgiving for 2021. Stores will re-open at 5 a.m. for Black Friday shoppers.

• Dick’s Sporting Goods

  Long a member of the Open on Thanksgiving club, Dick’s Sporting Goods closed for Thanksgiving 2020 and announced back in February it would close stores and distribution centers for Thanksgiving 2021. Stores will open back up for Black Friday, but no hours have been announced.

• Costco

  No surprises here. Costco has always stayed closed on Thanksgiving, even prior to COVID-19. It’s also one of the only major retailers that close on other federal holidays like New Year’s Day and Labor Day.

• BJ’s Wholesale Club

  BJ’s will stay closed on Thanksgiving for the 15th year in a row, according to an Oct. 12 press release. The chain has also confirmed its Black Friday opening time: 7 a.m. In-store shopping will include a “treasure-hunt experience” on Nov. 26, per the press release. But early Black Friday deals will start much sooner, with savings starting Nov. 4 and running through Nov. 29. Those deals will be shoppable here when they go live.

• Best Buy

  Best Buy announced back in June it would be closed on Thanksgiving. While it hasn’t announced its Black Friday opening time, it has revealed that it will begin its Black Friday sale a week before the actual day — on Nov. 19. It will also be launching early deals throughout November.

• Belk

  Belk confirmed via its Black Friday ad on Nov. 1 that it will stay closed on Thanksgiving Day (although deals will be available online) and will reopen on Black Friday at 7 a.m. Belk’s Black Friday deals start even earlier, though, on Nov. 19 (and run through Nov. 27).

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