Stores Buck Trend, Close For Thanksgiving Holiday

Retail stores that are opening on Thanksgiving day to get a jump-start on Black Friday shoppers are receiving a lot of attention, but kudos to a number of big-name retailers who are bucking the trend and  remaining closed for Thanksgiving.

I'm not sure exactly how it all started -- starting Black Friday sales on Thursday evening --although I think I have an idea. And it seems like other retailers who didn't want to be left out felt compelled to jump in and try to nab some of those early shoppers. Now we have stores that aren't just opening the evening of Thanksgiving -- we have stores that are opening the morning of Thanksgiving.

I like what a spokesman for Costco recently told the website ThinkProgress :

"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.”

HLN has reported that in addition to Costco, a number of chain stores have opted to remain closed on Thanksgiving. Those include Publix, Home Depot, Lowe's, Marshall's, Pier 1, Nordstrom, TJ Maxx, Crate & Barrel, Dillard's, Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, Radio Shack, Sur La Table, Jo Ann Fabrics, HomeGoods, and Game Stop.

I have a lot of respect and admiration for stores - big and small - who are choosing to remain closed for the entirety of Thanksgiving. Their employees are not being required to come to work, but rather are able to enjoy an entire day off with their families.

For one thing, it's a matter of respect - respecting employees as human beings who are real people with real feelings and families. It's a matter of putting the human element above the almighty dollar --which seems to mercilessly  drive the holiday season.

The fact is, there are countless people - many of the women - who probably will enjoy going out after the big meal on Thanksgiving Day and doing some shopping while the guys watch football. I get it. But this isn't about the people who want to go shopping on Thanksgiving Day - it's about the people who would much rather be at home with their families like most Americans, rather than being at work. The fact is, the deserve to be at home with their families and should be.

I, for one, intend to fully support those stores that are not open on Thanksgiving Day. They will get my money -- not the ones who will be open on the holiday.