Saving Thanksgiving? To shop or not to shop

Group plans pro-Thanksgiving rally, shopping debate rages

Remember back in the day when shopping malls were ghost towns on Thanksgiving? It's getting more difficult to remember those days, as more major retailers open on the formally forbidden holiday.

Many people have watched this "holiday creep" with dismay and disappointment. One local group is trying to rally shoppers to put down the charge cards on Thanksgiving Last year, Ruth to the Rescue highlighted the battle. Retail employees talked about the toll the new policies take on their families, and Annie Zirkel of Ann Arbor told us about her "Save Thanksgiving Pledge" on Facebook.

In 2014, it looks like many retailers are headed in the opposite direction. Target, J.C. Penney, and Macy's are opening even earlier. That means employees will have to be at work two hours earlier, making their holiday celebrations even shorter, if it's even possible to visit with family and friends.

Zirkel is disappointed, "People aren't even thinking about it. They're just going with the flow. 'Oh, the stores are open, we should go shopping!'"

Rallying to Save Thanksgiving

Although she's disappointed, Zirkel isn't giving up. This year, she's stepped up her efforts to preserve the holiday. She's still working on her Facebook page, she's launched a website, and there will be a rally outside the Briarwood Mall on Thursday, November 13th at 4:30 p.m.

"I actually feel like the people on our page this year are more frustrated," she told Ruth to the Rescue. "363 days? I think that's enough. I think turning, losing Thanksgiving to make it one more day of shopping is just really a challenge to hear."

Zirkel says she recently spend some time at the Briarwood Mall talking with employees about working the holiday. "I said well I'm going to keep asking until I find somebody who's like 'Yeah, no, it's fine. I don't really care." And, I did not find that person," she said.

Mall Responds: Give Shoppers What They Want

The Briarwood Mall is also expanding it's holiday hours this year, one of the reasons Zirkel's group will protest outside that shopping mall. The marketing director released a statement saying in part, "We offer extra festive holiday hours in response to what customers want: more options on when and how they shop during the holiday season ..." (Entire Statement Below)

During a visit to downtown Ann Arbor, the Ruth to the Rescue consumer unit couldn't find any shoppers that would admit they wanted to shop on the Thanksgiving holiday. Some appreciated the convenience, and others understood the economic pressures.

"If it was a collective thing, if no one was open, then there wouldn't be anywhere to shop. But, I understand that it's hard to resist, that, the dollars and cents you can make," said Miriam Wise of Cincinnati.

Certainly, large crowds of shoppers do turn out to shop after they've finished their turkey and pumpkin pie. However, Zirkel's group is convinced there should be more to life than dollars and cents.

"We've kind of lost sight of the whole family's important and being thankful for stuff that we do have, rather than going out and being greedy and wanting more." said Amanda Harms, a college student who worries her generation is missing the point of the holiday.

What really strike Zirkel about this shopping debate is the Thanksgiving holiday is a time for gratitude. She also would ask people to think about being courteous to the workers who must serve you, instead of spending time with their own families. In addition to the online presence and the Pro Thanks Rally,

Zirkel is working to find state legislators who might help draft a Thanksgiving Preservation Bill.

"This is us saying we care about the people who work here in our community and we don't want them to lose their Thanksgiving," she added.

For more information you can go to the Facebook page or the website.

Statement from Briarwood Mall Director of Marketing and Business Development Denise Murray:

"People are looking for things to do on a holiday. We offer extra festive holiday hours in response to what customers want: more options on when and how they shop during the holiday season and access to great deals and a festive holiday experience. Many other businesses including hotels, restaurants, and other service industries are open. Movie theaters are open and it's a big weekend for that industry just as this is a big weekend for retail. We're in the business of providing great experiences for our customers and this is an important way to meet their needs. As Ann Arbor serves a highly diverse community, we are responsive to the needs of our community. We consider this our Super Bowl."