Thanksgiving Thursday is the New Black Friday: Who's Open

By Jack Tobias

Shoppers will have plenty of time to avoid Black Friday crowds—by shopping on Thanksgiving.

Many malls and stores in the region are opening for at least a portion of Thanksgiving, mostly at night. But some, such as Walmart, Kmart and Old Navy, plan to open Thanksgiving morning.

That's not to say there's no backlash. A Michigan woman has pledged to fight what she calls a war on Thanksgiving by asking people to take a "No Shopping on Thanksgiving Day Pledge." There's even a Facebook page for it with 927 likes.

Do you plan on shopping on Thanksgiving? Tell us in the comments.

Here's who will be open Thanksgiving Day:

• The Bon-Ton is opening its stores at 8 p.m. Thursday, while Boscov's is opening from 7 p.m. to midnight Thursday and reopening at 6 a.m. Friday.
• Many Walmart stores are scheduled to be open all day Thanksgiving, although special holiday sales are set for 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
  
• Kmart plans to open its stores at 6 Thanksgiving morning and stay open until Black Friday runs out the next day.
  
• Old Navy stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving, with some of its stores scheduled to reopen at 7 Thanksgiving night.
  

The following are opening times on Thanksgiving announced by other major retail chains, according to the store websites and a report on USA Today.

• Toys R Us, 5 p.m.
• Best Buy, 6 p.m.
• Target, Macy's, JC Penney, Kohl's, Sears, Dick's Sporting Goods, all 8 p.m.

Not all national stores, however, are planning Thanksgiving openings. For instance, Burlington Coat Factory stores will open at 6 a.m. Friday, while BJ's and Sam's Club will open their stores at 7 a.m.