Walmart Joins Target In Decision To Close Thanksgiving Day 2021

BENTONVILLE, AR — Retail giant Walmart on Friday announced it will close all stores on Thanksgiving Day this year, a move the company said is a "thank you" to store employees for their hard work through the coronavirus pandemic.

Walmart's decision follows a similar one by competitor Target, which announced in January that stores would also close this Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 25 this year.

The company announced the decision on its corporate website. The release did not specify whether the closure affects Sam's Club warehouses.

Stores will operate regular posted hours on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Information about store hours for Friday, Nov. 26, will be announced at a later date, the company said.

This year will mark the second that Walmart will close its doors on Thanksgiving, underscoring a growing trend as companies find ways to prioritize employee well-being through the pandemic.

Last year's decision to close stores marked a huge departure from Walmart's tradition of kicking off Black Friday in-store sales on Thanksgiving Day.

On its corporate website, Target said it made the decision to close this year after receiving positive feedback from guests.

Walmart and Target are among many companies that have faced criticism for remaining open on Thanksgiving and keeping workers from spending the holiday with their families. In response, a growing number of retailers including Costco, Lowe's and Hobby Lobby have started closing stores on the holiday.

Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart, said employees have been "nothing short of heroic" through the pandemic.

"Sam Walton said, ‘Our people make the difference,’ and that’s never been more true than it is right now,” Smith said.