Local businesses have tough decision to make on Turkey Day

Many local businesses are mulling over an important decision this week.

The question of whether or not to stay open or close for Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

With Black Friday and Thanksgiving foot traffic slowly declining, and online sales booming, many stores find it unnecessary to remain open on turkey day.

This year, more than 100 well–known retailers will be closed.

Eric Jones, co–founder of BestBlackFriday.com, says this is due, in part, because of the ever growing online shopping market.

“One thing we are seeing is that mobile traffic is picking up so much. It’s so easy to get on your phone and then go to Walmart or Amazon to shop that not as many people will opt to go out on thanksgiving and be away from their family,” said Jones.

Foot traffic is declining, but there’s still enough to keep the big chains like Target, Best Buy and Walmart open.

Last year, shoppers spent $2.87 billion online on Thanksgiving, an 18 percent increase from the previous year.

“It’s continuing to grow so other people are going online and that gives opportunity for retailers to not have to be open and then get some good press for closing and treating your employees well, and let them stay home and spend time with their families,” said Jones.

One local business that will stay open, Hurts Donuts near North 9th and P streets, says keeping the doors open for major holidays helps to reach new customers.

“For those out of town family members who are coming into town wanting to try us out, they stop in, grab some donuts to take back to the family. It’s a great opportunity for new people to try us out,” said Travis Sarringar,  a manager at Hurts Donuts.

Hurts Donuts is open 24 hours a day and will remain open for all holidays.

They hope to capitalize on hungry shoppers coming home from Black Friday shopping.

“Come in at midnight, come in at three in the morning, somebody is always going to be here for you,” said Sarringar.

For those who are interested, the link to the full list of businesses that will be open on thanksgiving can be accessed here: www.metrodiningdelivery.com/restaurants_open_on_thanksgiving.html.