Shea Simmons
Last week, Walmart announced that, for the second year in a row, its stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, 2021.
Last year, the big-box retailer shuttered its doors on the holiday to thank its employees for continuing to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Walmart, the company is repeating the gesture for the same reason this year.
“Closing our stores on Thanksgiving Day is one way we’re saying ‘thank you’ to our teams for their dedication and hard work this year,” Smith said in a press release. “We hope everyone will take the opportunity to be with their loved ones during what’s always a special time.”
The decision was announced on June 4 in front of 1,000 employees at the company’s Associate Celebration meeting. Stores will be open during regular hours on Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. Hours for Black Friday (Nov. 26, 2021) have yet to be announced, but the company said that they’re coming soon.
Walmart isn’t the only major retailer taking a break on the holiday. Target also announced that its employees would be off on Thanksgiving to spend time with their loved ones.
This news certainly put us in the holiday spirit, so we’re heading to the Hallmark Channel, where it’s Christmas all year.
