For the first time in more than a decade, Vero Beach Outlets will not be open on Thanksgiving Day, allowing store employees to enjoy the holiday without having to go to work.
Stores are scheduled to open as early as 6 a.m. on Black Friday, fully stocked with fresh inventories – as well as exclusive savings and limited-time offers on name brands – for the official kickoff of the holiday shopping season.
Outlets marketing director Beth Hager said Monday the decision to close follows a national trend, reversing the shop-on-Thanksgiving craze that began just over 10 years ago and included most of America’s major retail stores, which opened as early as 5 p.m. and served up can’t-miss sales.
“After ongoing conversations with our stores and (observing) changing retail trends, Vero Beach Outlets made the decision to change our practices to allow all associates, both our store staff teams and property management personnel, the ability to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday to the fullest,” Hager said.
“We know our employees work tremendously hard – not only during the holiday shopping season, but all throughout the year – and feel remaining closed for the Thanksgiving holiday is the right thing to do for them.”
Industry polls show a majority of Americans support retail stores being closed on Thanksgiving.