Mall Of America Announces Plans For Thanksgiving, Black Friday

NEW: Black Friday 2019 Sales, When Stores Open In Minneapolis-St. Paul

BLOOMINGTON, MN — For the third consecutive year, Mall of America announced Thursday it will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day. Mall of America first made the decision to close its doors on Thanksgiving in 2016.

Last year, the mall announced Black Friday as a "seventh holiday" for employees who work directly for the MOA and Nickelodeon Universe. Those mall employees who are eligible and working on Nov. 23 will receive holiday pay once again this year, the mall said in a news release.

Target Announces Plans For Thanksgiving, Black Friday

“Since making the impactful decision to close our doors on Thanksgiving, Mall of America has seen the excitement and tradition of Black Friday come back to life,” Jill Renslow, SVP of Marketing and Business Development at Mall of America, said in a statement.

“We embrace our decision to remain closed on Thanksgiving and continue to welcome over 200,000 guests from around the world on Black Friday. It is a joy meeting the families and friends who celebrate their Black Friday tradition at Mall of America, creating new memories with their loved ones every year. That is truly what this day is about for us.”

Black Friday at the mall will kick off at 5 a.m. The MOA will be open at the North Entrance where the first 200 customers in line will receive a mall gift card valued anywhere between $10 - $500.

A "mystery scratch off" event will also begin that morning for customers where 10,000 free gifts totaling more than $200,000 will be given away Friday, Nov. 23 – Sunday, Nov. 25.

Every day, a limited quantity of mystery scratch-off tickets will be distributed at the North entrance to Mall of America.

Customers who receive a scratch-off ticket have the opportunity to win prizes that include electronics, high-end retail products, concert tickets, gift cards, Nickelodeon Universe tickets, professional sports tickets, hotel getaways and more.

Mall of America will once again host the Walk to End Hunger on Thanksgiving morning. This year marks the 11th year of this community event which helps provide more than 1 million meals to Twin Cities residents in need.

Sign Up For Patch's Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts in Your Neighborhood

Photo: People line up for a Black Friday giveaway outside the Mall of America on November 24, 2017 in Bloomington, United States. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)