By Isoken Osagie
Walmart announced Friday that it will begin closing its stores on Thanksgiving Day.
CNBC reports that the retail giant has joined Target which also announced in January that its store will close on the holiday. Walmart announced the move to a group of store employees during its associate celebration meeting.
This will be the second year the companies have decided to close operations on Thanksgiving Day following adjustments made last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce crowds and follow safety protocols.
In a news release, Walmart Chief Operating Officer Dacona Smith said shutting down in-store operations on the holiday “is one way we’re saying ‘thank you’ to our teams for their dedication and hard work this year.”
Walmart said operation hours for Black Friday will be shared at a later date.