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Black Friday Shoppers have to wait until midnight for door-buster deals - Can't Start On Thanksgiving In 3 States

Oleh
Black Friday is coming early this year to many retailers, which plan to open on Thanksgiving Day. But in three New England states, shoppers will have wait until midnight for door-buster deals.
So-called blue laws -- first drafted in the colonial era to push people to go to church on Sunday and holidays -- bar retailers in Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island from opening on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Such laws were once far more restrictive, prohibiting the sale of alcohol on Sunday. But Jon B. Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, told The Huffington Post that few businesses there have called for lifting the ban on Thanksgiving hours.
“We haven’t really been under pressure to change the laws here,” Hurst said Saturday. “Frankly, it wouldn’t be my cup of tea to go out on Thanksgiving night and shop. I’d rather watch football.”
Still, he said, he is concerned that Massachusetts residents may simply be driving to nearby Connecticut or New Hampshire to shop that day.
“We know those stores are busy on Thursday night,” Hurst said. “So it raises the question: Are Massachusetts blue laws stopping consumers from shopping? Or are they just stopping them from shopping in Massachusetts?”
National retail chains such as Target, Toys R Us and Kmart are extending Black Friday hours even earlier this year, encouraging shoppers to wolf down the turkey on Thursday and come on in. For critics who lament a "war on Thanksgiving," the surviving blue laws protect the peace of a holiday traditionally spent feasting with loved ones.
“I used to work in retail and it stinks to work on the holidays,” said Juliana Bondor, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, in a segment aired on local ABC affiliate WGGB. “Especially for Thanksgiving -- that was started as a holiday for Americans to be together with family -- I think the laws are important to protect workers.”
Some national chains, including Costco, Marshall’s and Barnes & Noble, decided toremain closed on Thanksgiving. Hurst said that if the law changed in Massachusetts, he imagines most businesses would probably still do the same.
“It’s never been illegal to open on Easter,” he said. “But very, very few open because there’s just not much of a demand.”
Neiman Marcus
Opens at 8 a.m. on Black Friday. Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Ginger Reeder told HuffPost:
"We hope our associates enjoy the time with family and friends."
Nordstrom
Black Friday hours vary by store. A Nordstrom spokesperson told Mental Floss:
"We just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time."
Patagonia
Black Friday hours vary by store. A Patagonia spokesperson told ThinkProgress:
“It’s a holiday – we’re closed!"
REI
Black Friday hours vary by location, but all stores will open by at least 8 a.m. A REI spokesperson confirmed that stores will be closed on Thanksgiving.
Sam's Club
Stores open at 7 a.m. on Black Friday. Tara Raddohl, a Sam's Club spokeswoman, told HuffPost:
"Based on member feedback, we have elected to close our clubs Thanksgiving Day."
T.J. Maxx
Most stores open at 7 a.m. on Black Friday.Colleen Beauregard, TJX Companies spokeswoman, told HuffPost in an email:
"We are pleased to give our Associates the time to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends."
Barnes & Noble
Store hours vary on Black Friday. The company posted on its website:
"We will be closed Thanksgiving Day, November 27 so that our booksellers can be with their family and friends."
Burlington Coat Factory
Black Friday hours vary by store. A Burlington spokesperson told ThinkProgress.
“All Burlington locations will remain closed on Thanksgiving so that our associates and customers can spend the special holiday with their loved ones."
Costco
Opens at 9 a.m. on Black Friday. In a statement, Costco spokeswoman Bev Akada told The Huffington Post:
“Our employees work especially hard during the holiday season and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families. Nothing more complicated than that."
Dillard's
Opens at 8 a.m. on Black Friday. Julie Johnson Bull, director of investor relations at Dillard's, told HuffPost in an email:
"We choose to remain closed on Thanksgiving in longstanding tradition of honoring of our customers' and associates' time with family."
GameStop
Opens at midnight on Black Friday.Spokeswoman Jackie Smith told HuffPost in an email:
"We believe it’s the right decision not only for our employees, but also for our customers. Enjoy this time with your loved ones and we’ll see you on Black Friday."

American Girl
Black Friday hours vary by location. Susan Jevens, American Girl spokeswoman, told HuffPost:
"Our stores have never been open on Thanksgiving, so this is not a new decision for us."







Marshalls
Most stores open at 7 a.m., and some open at 5 a.m., on Black Friday. Colleen Beauregard, a TJX Companies spokeswoman, told HuffPost:
"We consider ourselves an associate-friendly company."
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