WESTFIELD – Westfield merchants are attempting to inform customers that, despite what national advertisements they are reading or seeing on TV claiming they will be opening on Thanksgiving Day, their Massachusetts franchises will be waiting till the wee hours Friday morning to open their doors.
“Our corporation won’t allow it,” said Linda Wagar, manager of The Bon-Ton on East Main Street, of opening on Thursday, despite advertising telling customers otherwise.
“I’ve heard online that Macy’s and Walmart are opening 12:30 and 1:00 on Thanksgiving, but we’ll be opening at midnight Friday,” she said, mentioning an advertisement her store has put out with the words “8PM THURSDAY” with an “X” through them and the words “12 AM FRIDAY” above them.
“Whatever the state law says is what we do,” she said.
When asked whether she thinks it’s positive to restrict businesses on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, Wagar’s answer was resounding.
“I think it’s good for people to spend the holiday with family and friends,” she said.
A quick call to the Bon-Ton’s Route 20 neighbor Walmart elicited a similar response.
“We will not be open on Thanksgiving,” said manager Scott Ring, who said he will be spending the day with his family. “I’ve got to be here Friday at 12:01 a.m. though. We’ll be opening at 1:00 a.m.”
Ring said that stores in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont will be opening on Thursday due to those state’s lack of Blue Laws, and that he has been getting a lot of questions related to the company’s national ad campaigns involving Thanksgiving Day openings.
While his Westfield store will not be opening it’s doors on Thanksgiving, Ring said that they will be adhering to another company promotion on Friday.
“All of the deals that are being held on Friday at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. Thursday, we will be honoring them at 1:00 a.m. Friday,” he said.
