Few large stores in metro Phoenix will open on Thanksgiving Day. The big push starts on Black Friday

Thanksgiving Day is for eating turkey and watching football. There’s little point to hitting the malls then because most larger shopping centers and retailers will stay closed.

That’s a reversal from the recent trend, when Thanksgiving Day store openings were all the rage. In 2018, for example, slightly more than half (56%) of larger retailers tracked by The Arizona Republic were closed on Thanksgiving Day. This year, the figure is above 80%.

Retailers say they want to give their employees more time to spend with friends and family on Turkey Day, and there’s some truth to that. In addition, employers everywhere have had a harder time attracting and retaining staff, and staying dark on Thanksgiving is one concession that helps.

Besides, Black Friday and Cyber Monday-focused online sales continue to rise in importance, especially among shoppers and employees concerned about the spread of COVID-19.

Here are Thanksgiving-weekend schedules for selected large retailers and shopping centers.

The information below for retailers was compiled by TheBlackFriday.com.

Ashley Home Store: Closed Thanksgiving, open 7 a.m. Black Friday, online Black Friday information is not available.

Dillard’s: Closed Thanksgiving, open 9 a.m. Black Friday, online Black Friday promotions are not available.

REI: Closed Thanksgiving and Black Friday, online Black Friday promotion information not available.

Phoenix-area shopping centers owned or operated by Macerich are closed Thanksgiving and open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Black Friday. They include Arrowhead Towne Center, Biltmore Fashion Park, Chandler Fashion Center, Desert Sky Mall, Kierland Commons, San Tan Village, Scottsdale Fashion Square and Superstition Springs Center.

Open-air malls operated by Vestar will remain open on both days, though many stores will be closed. These complexes include Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Lake Pleasant Towne Center in Peoria, San Tan Village Marketplace in Gilbert, Scottsdale Promenade and Tempe Marketplace.