Arbor Place Mall To Close on Thanksgiving

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Arbor Place Mall will join a host of other retailers throughout the country this holiday season, keeping its doors shut on Thanksgiving.

Traditionally, most malls have closed on Thanksgiving, only to open early on the following day, dubbed Black Friday, for one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

But in recent years, more and more retailers have begun rolling out their holiday sales on Turkey Day itself. Critics say that trend trivializes, and commercializes, a holiday meant to be a time for family and faith.

"Over the last few years, we’ve watched as the magic of Black Friday has been diminished by an earlier start to the holiday shopping season," Stephen Lebovitz, president and CEO of Arbor Place owners CBL & Associates, said in a letter to customers.

"Gone are the days of waking before dawn to hunt for deals and doorbusters. Well, not this year."

This year, he wrote, Arbor Place will be closed on Thanksgiving and open for Black Friday at 6 a.m.

"We want you to spend Thanksgiving with family and friends and come fresh and excited to spend Black Friday with us," Lebovitz wrote. "So enjoy that extra plate of pie at dinner, take a long afternoon nap, set your alarm and wake up with us to bring back the magic of Black Friday."

Chattanooga, Tennessee-based CBL & Associates has announced that 72 of its malls will close on Thanksgiving. Last year, they opened at 6 p.m.

The move came on the heels of Mall of America's decision to close on Thanksgiving this year.

Arbor Place has more than 150 stores, including Dillard's, Macy's, Belk, Sears, JC Penney, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond and an 18-screen Regal IMAX Cinema.

Image courtesy Arbor Place Mall