Black Friday is So Last Year, Get Your Shopping Fix on Throw-Off Thursday

You’ve already started planning for it: Mapped out the location and order of the stores you’re going to hit up, check; list of all the gifts you’re going to purchase, check; sleeping in your clothes so that you can just roll out of bed, check. However, you’re not in training for the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. No, you’re training for the throw-off; the start of the race that happens before Black Friday. That’s right; you’re planning for your shopping trip on Thanksgiving Day.

This year, many stores will find their doors opening a day early to make up for the slow holiday sales periods from 2008 and 2009. Among the stores that will be open on Thanksgiving are the expected retailers including Wal-Mart and Kmart. However, while you’re out and about, you may find that some unexpected stores decided to get a head start on the holiday cheer including Sears, open from 7 a.m. until noon; Garden Ridge, open from 8 a.m. to midnight; certain Old Navy stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and even Toys R Us will open its doors at 10 p.m. Thanksgiving night to get a head start on Black Friday.

Don’t worry if you’ll be too busy on Thanksgiving stuffing yourself with turkey to make any holiday gift purchases. These and other stores will reopen for the traditional Black Friday shopping frenzy.

Have a safe and fun Thanksgiving.