Over the past year we’ve learned barely anything can get in the way of a good Black Friday deal -- not even Thanksgiving.
Once again, many stores plan to open on the holiday but not everyone wants to put shopping ahead of tradition.
Desoto Square Mall in Bradenton will be closed on Thanksgiving.
General Manager Robert Tackett thinks the decision will pay off.
“It gives the families time to spend with each other, grandparents you have a lot of people coming from the north, gives them an opportunity to spend time together,” said Tackett. “Plus it saves on payroll and payroll is very expensive when you’re doing those hours during the holiday season.”
Tricia Freeman runs Central Bark in the mall and is thrilled they won't be open on Thanksgiving.
She says early Black Friday crowds are hard to deal with.
“You are paying people extra time, you have to worry about security with all the crowds, you have to worry about people getting hurt, things going missing, you lose a lot of stock that way,” said Freeman. “People like to stick things in their pockets and with all the crowds you can’t keep up with that.”
Are the extra hours even worth it? Is Black Friday a dying phenomenon?
Alexis Muellner, with the Tampa Bay Business Journal, says over the past few years sales have declined.
"2012 was a $59 billion spending and then it went down,” Muellner said. “There's always, maybe there's been a bit of a ceiling, but it's anticipated that all the shopping and energy is boundless and here we are."
While Desoto Square will not be open on Thanksgiving, the mall will be open on Black Friday starting at 9 a.m.