For some shoppers Thanksgiving Day is the new Black Friday.  But some retailers aren’t necessarily jumping on board with the new trend, and others are trying to reverse it after backlash from shoppers who think it’s too much.

Luanne Parker always dreamed of having her own business.

“This was like, someday when I retire I would like to have my own store,” said Parker, owner of Rustic Journeys Furniture and Decor in Oviedo Mall. “It’s like a dream come true.”

Parker relied on help from her family and friends to get her store open a few months ago.

“We’re family owned, family operated,” said Parker.

Parker is looking forward to cashing in on her store’s first holiday shopping season. But her store won’t be open on Thanksgiving Day.

“Being closed on a day that we could potentially bring a lot of money in -- this is our income -– so you would think we would want to be open,” said Parker. “But at some point, as Covey [Dr. Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People] says you have to sharpen the saw, and you have to enjoy time with family and relax.”

Parker is following Oviedo Mall’s lead in remaining closed on Thanksgiving. Macy's and the movie theater are the only businesses that will be open. After a backlash from shoppers nationwide, some stores like Office Depot are staying closed this year until Black Friday. 

Unlike Oviedo Mall, most other shopping malls in the area will be open on Thanksgiving, although most don’t open up until Thursday evening.

“Why should you guys have to work, especially on Thanksgiving Day? And you don’t want to be here at the mall when everybody’s going crazy shopping,” said Monica Fehlberg, a shopper.

“We should all be home eating turkey.”

For Luanne Parker, no amount of money made is worth sacrificing family time at home.

“So this really gives me time to spend with my boys, they’re teenagers, and my husband,” said Parker. “Granted they help out at the store but it’s a different family dynamic.  So we’re able to have fun together, outside of the store setting.”

Major stores closed on Thanksgiving

Many major non-food stores will open on Thanksgiving night. These major stores in the Central Florida and Tampa areas will remain closed on Thanksgiving.

Find more Thanksgiving and Black Friday hours on the Black Friday page.

  • Babies "R" Us
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Burlington
  • Costco
  • Crate and Barrel
  • DSW
  • GameStop
  • hhgregg
  • H&M
  • Hobby Lobby
  • Home Depot
  • HomeGoods
  • IKEA
  • Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft
  • Lowe's
  • Marshalls
  • Nordstrom
  • Office Depot and OfficeMax
  • Petco
  • PetSmart
  • Pier 1 Imports
  • Sam's Club
  • Staples
  • T.J. Maxx