Some Pleasant Hill stores closing up for Thanksgiving

REI+store+in+the+Willows+Shopping+Center%2C+Concord+Ca%2C+taken+Nov.+11th+2015

REI store in the Willows Shopping Center, Concord Ca, taken Nov. 11th 2015

Sarah Carr, Staff Member

Certain retail chains are not going to be participating in the Black Friday campouts the night of Thanksgiving.

A handful of stores are going to close Thursday, Nov. 26th and reopen the next day on Friday. Some of the largest names include Costco, TJMaxx and GameStop. While most of the stores closing on Thanksgiving will be opening on Black Friday—on their normal schedule Costco opens at 9 a.m. for example—some stores are opening early. GameStop opens at 5 a.m. on Black Friday. A list of brand names that are taking Thanksgiving off are shown on theblackfriday.com

One major tradition of Black Friday is to set up camping gear and claim a spot in line right after Thanksgiving dinner. In the past few years, stores have released Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving itself, and setting a time during the evening to lower prices and boasting the early specials in commercials.

These stores are separating themselves from the new tradition of “Black Friday on Thursday.” Whether or not the majority of consumers want stores to remain open on Thanksgiving, rather than stay closed, seems to be a trend with good intentions.

REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.), is closing its doors for both Thanksgiving and Black Friday at its Concord location.

Carlos, a full-time employee at the REI store in the Willows Shopping Center, agrees with the location’s holiday hours, “From a retailer standpoint, electronics is more what people want. So it is a good move on their (REI’s) part. It’s good to stay at home and be with your family,” Carlos said.

Even though these stores are making a change in the Black Friday norms, there are still many others who will bring on the sales.

Carlos went on to say, “People will still be shopping, there’s still gonna be deals.”

Here’s a list of chain stores that are closed on Thanksgiving in the Pleasant Hill area:

GameStop
Costco Wholesale
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft
Harbor Freight Tools
REI
Staples
T.J. Maxx
Sam’s Club