This Michigan Grocery Store Will Close Its Doors on Thanksgiving

For the fourth year in a row, one popular retail chain will be closing its doors on Thanksgiving Day.

In an address to Walmart associates on X (formerly Twitter), CEO John Furner announced that the chain's more than 4,700 US stores will be closed to allow associates the opportunity to spend the holiday with family.

"I am delighted to share that once again, we'll be closing our stores for Thanksgiving this year. Thanksgiving is such a special day during a very busy season," he said. "We want you to spend the day at home with family and loved ones."

 

It Started During the Pandemic

If there's one good thing that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's a trend toward retailers closing their doors on Thanksgiving Day.

While companies used to capitalize on Thanksgiving Day, making it an early start to Black Friday shopping, many have backed away from that stance since 2020. Walmart and a handful of other big-box stores began closing on Turkey Day to show thanks to their associates for their hard work during the global health crisis.

That trend has continued in subsequent years.

Walmart is the first major US retailer to announce that it's closing on Thanksgiving Day 2023.

Holiday Shopping is Changing

In the video below, Furner tells Today that consumers have been starting their holiday shopping earlier in past years, so Walmart is putting less emphasis on the traditional Black Friday sales events and adding special sales days throughout November.