Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 3:54 PM EDT Oct 22, 2019
Early Black Friday store openings and doorbuster deals may draw thousands on Thanksgiving Day, but it’s a practice that should be stopped.
So said the nearly unanimous result of my informal reader poll.
I asked readers what they thought about stores being open on Thanksgiving.
While there were proponents on both sides, 95% of those who responded said stores should be closed.
“We need to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving Day for what it truly is and not lump it in with holiday shopping,” said Neenah resident Faye Grosek-Woods.
Thanksgiving should be preserved as a day set aside to give thanks, count one’s blessings and share time with family and friends, she said.
“No need for retail stores to be open,” said Marcia Ladd in a Facebook comment. “Go back to the days when you’d go to bed early and head out in the wee hours on Black Friday. It sucks all the thrill out of the deals if you can get them Thursday. Thanksgiving should be about just family and giving thanks.”
“Everyone deserves the right to be with their loved ones on a holiday,” Laurie Secor wrote in an email. “And considering the shortage of work staff, give your employees a much-needed rest. It should never be about money.”
“Make Black Friday Black Friday again,” said Tara Bennin in a Facebook comment.
A few brave enough to say “yes” gave their reasoning.
“Just to present another point of view, some appreciate and need the holiday pay and volunteer to work,” said Cathy Bennett.
“I like it. It has become a tradition for my daughter and I,” wrote Barb Schultz. “I always have to work Black Friday and every Saturday, so it is a fun time for us to get some great deals for Christmas presents.”
Having worked retail herself, Schultz said she does feel for those forced to work the entire day.
“It is too bad they can’t have it so they can do shifts, so everyone is allowed some time off.”
Contact Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @wallenfang.
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