stores open on thanksgiving

This year there's no need to wait anymore. You can go holiday shopping as soon as you finish your Thanksgiving turkey. You'll get the same discounts

Popular chain stores throughout the nation are joining in on the trend to stay open for turkey day sale-a-thons.

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"Kmart's opening at 7 a.m. [today]. That's pretty aggressive," said Christine Augustin, a retail analyst at Bear Stearns. "There's a lot of midnight madness where the mall's opening at midnight and having bands and entertainment," she added.

CompUSA is open tonight from 9 to midnight. It's enticing shoppers with sweet deals and serving free pumpkin pie.

In New York, some shoppers ABC News talked to liked the idea. "It gives us the opportunity to kind of have a split day where we're spending time with our family for Thanksgiving and yet we still have an opportunity to get out and shop," said one shopper.

After the weakest fall shopping season in a decade, retail projections for the all important holiday shopping season are down.

An ABC News poll showed 36 percent of shoppers predict they will spend less this year for holiday shopping; 48 percent said they plan to spend about the same as last year.

An estimated 133 million Americans will shop Thanksgiving weekend, that's down 3 percent from last year, according to the National Retail Federation.

Augustin said, "We're seeing these earlier-than-ever promotions by retailers, because consumers have been a little more reluctant this year to part with their money."

Online retailers are also jumping in on the act. Wal-Mart is posting its Black Friday specials online today so shoppers can buy an item at the sale price and pick it up in the store Friday.

Analysts predict that consumers can expect to see discount deals on some of this year's hottest items, like high-def TVs, digital cameras and Global Positioning Systems.

Even Amazon.com, which aims to be price competitive year-round, is noticing a change in consumer shopping. According to CEO and founder Jeff Bezos, "What we
York, NY (AHN) - The last months of this year can be crucial for the U.S. companies as they would like to make most out of it. So the prices have gone down to drive as many shoppers as possible on this Thanksgiving holiday as well as Christmas.

Amid the best bargains available in the market, retailers want to get as much as out of projected $456 billion holiday spending. And for that the retailers have opened doors to the shoppers on Thursday.

But the rising gas prices, deepening housing slump and credit crunch may hold back the consumers from being the spendthrifts.

"Retailers are in for a somewhat challenging holiday season as consumers are faced with numerous economic obstacles," Rosalind Wells, a chief economist for the National Retail Federation, told Caller Times newspaper.

"With the weak housing market and current credit crunch, consumers will be forced to be more prudent with their holiday spending."

On the other hand, some agree that opening stores on Thursday can ruin the idea of and business carried out on the Black Friday. More than half of Americans plan to shop on the day after Thanksgiving, according to Britt Beemer of America's Research Group, the Daily News reported.

"Black Friday is going to be the biggest day ever for people who shop early," Beemer said. "There will be a 50 percent increase in shoppers. But will the stores be able to handle it, and how long will people stay? The stores may be empty by 2 p.m."

But only 11% will even consider heading to a store on Thanksgiving Day.

In the end, all the companies including Kmart, WalMart, J.C. Penny, CompUSA
The Thanksgiving holiday isn't stopping some shoppers from getting good bargains.

K-marts across the country are offering special Thanksgiving day sales and about 100 people lined up at the store on Lemay Ferry Road Thursday morning to get the deals.Advertisement

The store opened at 7 a.m. Most people were in line waiting for one thing - a Nintendo Wii video game system.

Other stores that are open today include Walgreens and Bass Pro Shops.

Many stores are also trying to lure shoppers in tomorrow by offering online deals today. Some stores are even solely publicizing Need to do a little last minute shopping for your Thanksgiving feast? Several grocery stores will be open for your convenience on Turkey Day.

Kroger and WalMart Super Center locations are open 24 hours. Piggly Wiggly will be open from 6AM-6PM and Food Lion will be open from 7AM-3PM on Thanksgiving Day.

All stores will remain open during their regular hours tonight. Piggly Wiggly will stay open until 11:00, Publix and Food Lion until 10:00, and The Fresh Market until 9:00.