For major retailers, the Christmas season begins the day afterHalloween.
No sooner do the ghosts and skeletons come down than the wreaths and tinsel go up.
Pumpkin spice lattes and apple cakes in popular coffee chains give way to peppermint hot chocolate andgingerbread.
For the last decade or so, big-name stores like Macy’s have been opening on Thanksgiving evening.
Shoppers could literally go out and check items off their gift list as soon as they finished their pie.
Then came the 2020 COVID pandemic, and everything changed once again.
A year later, businesses, schools, and entertainment have reopened, and the vaccine is widely available.
Does that mean you’re free to hit the mall on Thanksgiving night again?
However, their Black Friday deals had already begun as of early November.
(See the link for a more complete list of closings.)
Pet owners will also have to wait till Friday to shop at PetSmart or Petco.
Some local branches of these stores may have different schedules, however, so check before you go out.
