Is Nothing Sacred? Connecticut Retailers Now Open on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving — at least in Middletown — has always meant most businesses, except for convenience stores, gas stations, bars and a handful of eateries, are closed.

It's a day to spend with family and for those who work in retail to take a holiday from their jobs in customer service.

That is slowly changing.

Last year was the first time that many retailers began Black Friday on Thanksgiving Day itself, and this year, with the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas a full week shorter, more stores will be open on Turkey Day, thankful for the dollars.

Some shoppers are equally as adamant about hitting the stores early for deals and a chance to get holiday gift-buying done early.

Two stores near to Middletown — Wal-Mart in Cromwell and Kohl's in Berlin — are two of eight national retailers that will be open on Nov. 28 this year. Others are Best Buy, Target, Sears, J.C. Penney, Macy's and The Gap.

After we ran the story earlier this week on Middletown Patch, Thanksgiving Thursday is the New Black Friday: Stores Open on Thanksgiving, we asked our Facebook fans to weigh in on what they thought about national retailers opening their doors on the day we give thanks. Here's what they said:

• Mark: Whatever happen to families gathering like the old days? Big companies are greedy these days, looking for profit in every niche!

• Marcia: Making low wage earners get NO time off even on holidays strikes me as greedy indeed.

• Brit: Greedy businesses — stores should be closed on various holidays so families can spend time together. Seems traditional holidays have very little and no meaning anymore especially where money-making is concerned. Perhaps people should just not shop on various days, causing businesses to be closed.

• David: I am not condoning companies opening on Thanksgiving day, but I find it funny how the finger is always pointed at the company and never at the people who camp out with kids in tow, leaving their own families on Thanksgiving for the best deals. This is a case were the "greed" works both ways.

• Kathleen: Ba Humbug!!!!! Let workers spend time with their families!!!!!!!

• Cheryl: We should follow Massachusetts with their Blue Laws: Stores can't open until 1 a.m. on Friday

• Brit: I sincerely feel that all businesses especially retail stores should be closed on Thanksgiving Day so the staff can enjoy being with their families. Holidays are just so businesses can profit and businesses are forgetting what holidays are suppose to be all about. 

What do you think of stores beginning the holiday mega-push on Thanksgiving Day? Will you take part? Tell us in comments below.