More retailers will not open on Thanksgiving

But the “big boys” like Walmart, Target and Best Buy are expected to be doing business in their stores and online.    As transportation and logistics providers gear up for the holiday season, more retailers are announcing they will not open on Thanksgiving.
   “With Black Friday and Thanksgiving foot traffic slowly decreasing and online sales booming, many stores find it unnecessary to open their doors on Turkey Day,” said BestBlackFriday.com, which now lists nearly 100 national and regional retailers that will be closed Nov. 22.
   Among the major retailers that have announced they will not open on Thanksgiving are Academy Sports, Crate and Barrel, The Home Depot, IKEA and Lowe’s.
   But many major retailers can’t afford to be closed on Thanksgiving, according to BestBlackFriday.com.
   “Despite Thanksgiving foot traffic slowly declining, the number of Americans who frequent stores on that day is still extremely high, which means the big boys, including Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Macy’s and Kohl’s, will all likely stay open,” it said.
   BestBlackFriday.com cited Adobe, which reported shoppers spent $2.87 billion online on Thanksgiving last year, 18.3 percent more than the year before.
   The website also pointed to ShopperTrak, which said Thanksgiving foot traffic was down last year. “As ShopperTrak notes, shoppers are realizing they do not have to shop in-store on Thanksgiving to get the absolute lowest prices. Instead, they are purchasing online or shopping in-store on Black Friday or during Thanksgiving weekend.”
Upcoming FreightWaves Events
Compliance

Brokerage Compliance Symposium

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Awards

F3 Awards Dinner

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

October 26, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
FreightTech

F3: Future of Freight Festival

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

October 27, 2026 – October 28, 2026
The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN
Register Now
Compliance Brokerage Compliance Symposium Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The day before F3. Every compliance issue you face - fraud exposure, carrier liability, FMCSA rules, cargo theft, insurance gaps - navigated by attorneys and operators defining best practices in a changing industry.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
Awards F3 Awards Dinner Oct 26 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

The night before F3. FreightTech100 companies honored. FreightTech 25 and Shipper of Choice winners revealed live. Cocktail reception into dinner and live music - 300 industry leaders in one purpose-built room.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now
FreightTech F3: Future of Freight Festival Oct 27 – Oct 28 • The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN

Industry-defining keynotes, rapid-fire technology demos, and industry leaders networking in experiences across Chattanooga - plus the inaugural F3 Awards Dinner featuring the FreightTech and Shipper of Choice reveals.

The Signal at Chattanooga Choo Choo • Chattanooga, TN Register Now

Kim Link Wills

Senior Editor Kim Link-Wills has written about everything from agriculture as a reporter for Illinois Agri-News to zoology as editor of the Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine. Her work has garnered awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Magazine Association of the Southeast. Prior to serving as managing editor of American Shipper, Kim spent more than four years with XPO Logistics.