Rep. Matt Lesser Joins Legislators Opposed to Thanksgiving Retail Openings

State Rep. Matthew Lesser, D-100th, is among a group of legislators who are cracking down on big retailers opening their doors on Thanksgiving day.

Lesser, legislative leaders and advocates will speak at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford Tuesday at 3 p.m. in reaction to news that several area retailers, including Wal-Mart, Staples, Macy's and Target, are planning to open on Thanksgiving Day, a coalition of legislators and advocates will announce Tuesday plans to introduce legislation to curtail the practice.

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. 

"Thanksgiving is a time when residents should be with their families, not forced to cater to Black Friday crowds. This is about basic family values,” Lesser said.

Two stores near 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.

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• Thanksgiving is for Turkey — Not Shopping
• Thanksgiving Thursday is the New Black Friday: Stores Open on Thanksgiving