Kohl’s stores to close on Thanksgiving
Kohl’s Corp. joined other national retailers in announcing that its stores would close on Thanksgiving Day this year during the coronavirus pandemic.
“As we prepare for the 2020 holiday season, the Kohl’s team is designing plans to reflect a year like no other,” the retailer said in a news release Wednesday. “Given the importance of safety and convenience, we expect more customers to shop earlier, search for great deals throughout the season, and take advantage of our online and omnichannel conveniences.”
The Menomonee Falls-based retailer has opened its stores on Thanksgiving Day every year since 2013. The last time Kohl’s stores were closed on the holiday was 2012. Stores opened at midnight for Black Friday shopping.
Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday are celebrated by retailers as the start of the holiday shopping season when the stores typically have the highest sales. The announcement from Kohl’s follows other national retailers like Target and Walmart in saying that stores would be closed on the holiday. Kohl’s has more than 1,100 stores in 49 states. The retail stores have had to adapt during the pandemic by adding curbside pickup options, requiring masks in stores and enforcing social distancing.
Kohl’s closed all its stores in March as stay-at-home orders went into effect across the country to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus. Kohl’s reported a drop in sales by 43.5% in its first fiscal quarter of 2020.
“The holiday season is when Kohl’s shines brightest, and as we move into the holiday season of this very unusual year, we are adapting our plans in response to changing customer expectations and behaviors,” Michelle Gass, Kohl’s chief executive officer, said in the news release. “We are deeply appreciative of how our team of Kohl’s associates have shown up to serve our customers through this pandemic and know that they will continue to show Kohl’s at our best throughout the holidays.”
Kohl’s will announce more information about holiday hours later this year.