Some Cape Girardeau-area stores to be open Thanksgiving Day

Several stores are hoping people will put shopping on their Thanksgiving Day menu. National retailers Sears, Old Navy and Toys "R" Us will be open in Cape Girardeau part of Thanksgiving Day.

"At first, we didn't think the crowds would be very big, but the feedback from customers has been that they're excited. It's a wonderful opportunity for people who don't have any other day off besides Thanksgiving," said Sears Grand general manager Sandra Jewell.

Sears Grand in Cape Girardeau will be open from 7 a.m. to noon on Thanksgiving Day. It was open on Thanksgiving Day a few years ago as part of a Sears Grand experiment, but this is the first year all Sears stores companywide will be open.

"I'll be working that day. I'm putting my turkey in before I go to work and then I'll finish fixing the meal when I get home," Jewell said.

Old Navy inside West Park Mall will be open Thanksgiving Day for the first time this year, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. It will then reopen at midnight for Black Friday.

"We're anticipating high volumes. In my opinion, I would say by early afternoon [Thursday] we could have some strong sales," store manager Carol Burford said.

While the rest of the mall will be closed, its main entrance will be open to allow customers access to the Old Navy store, she said.

Toys "R" Us isn't making customers wait until Black Friday for deep discounts either. The store will open at 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving to start a 24-hour shopathon. It is also offering free 64-packs of crayons and coloring books with any purchase.

"As soon as the Thanksgiving dinner table is cleared, thousands of families will pull out their newspaper circulars to scan, circle and cut out Black Friday deals," said Adrienne Giordano, Toys "R" Us spokeswoman. "With Toys 'R' Us stores opening at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night, eager shoppers don't have to wait long to take advantage of savings."

This year, Old Navy, Sears and Toys "R" Us join other retailers that are traditionally open on Thanksgiving Day, including Walmart, Kmart, Walgreens, Big Lots and Dollar General. Schnucks is also open Thanksgiving Day.

Despite the excitement from retailers, many shoppers say Thanksgiving is a day to stay at home with family and they won't be out shopping.

In a random survey of 10 West Park Mall shoppers Monday afternoon, not one said they would go shopping on Thanksgiving.

"I feel like that is a family day for us. I usually put up our Christmas tree that evening," said Michelle Grimm of Cape Girardeau. "Some people though may go thinking it won't be as crowded as Friday."

Several shoppers said it's unfair to the store employees to have to work on Thanksgiving,

"The next thing you know stores will be open on Christmas," said Leslie Stevens of Benton, Mo. "I think it's a little bit sad. It takes away the sacredness of the holidays."

Between cooking and traveling to relatives on Thanksgiving, some shoppers said they'd like to head out to the stores but won't have time.

"I would love to, but we have too many houses to go to that day," said Michele Gooch of Jackson. "And besides, eating all that turkey makes you just want to take a nap."

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent addresses:

207 West Park Mall, Cape Girardeau MO

210 Silver Springs Road, Cape Girardeau, MO

330 Siemers Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO