NEW YORK—A new petition on Change.org to urge Best Buy to close its doors on Thanksgiving Day drew 10,000 signatures as of Thursday night. A similar petition aimed at Target stores has gathered more than 150,000 signatures to date.
Rick Melaragni, an eight-year Best Buy employee in Tampa, Fla., started the Best Buy petition. Petitioners urge the stores to give employees the whole day off to spend with family.
Best Buy responded with a statement similar to responses from Wal-Mart and Target: Customers want to shop late on Thanksgiving night, rather than early on Black Friday morning. Best Buy noted that competition is also driving the earlier opening.
“We know this decision changes Thanksgiving plans for some of our employees, and we empathize with those who are affected. … The best thing we can do, each day, is to help our company grow, so we can continue to provide good jobs through the continuation of great customer experiences.”
