Really?? Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave. Flagship to Open on Thanksgiving

What are they thinking??? Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue will be open for business on Thanksgiving Day, taking the competition by surprise by breaking the long-held tradition of remaining closed for the revered family holiday.

All of Manhattan’s other main flagships — Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s — will stay closed Thanksgiving Day, although Lord & Taylor’s decision could force the hand of some to extend hours somehow.

Macy’s did open all of its stores last year at midnight following Thanksgiving Day to get the jump on Black Friday and will probably do it again this year because the strategy was considered successful. But under no circumstances will Macy’s or its sister division Bloomingdale’s be open Thanksgiving Day. “It’s parade day. We wouldn’t do that to our employees,” said one Macy’s source.


Lord & Taylor’s decision could irk many of its employees. But one source close to the retailer said, “Lord & Taylor wouldn’t do it if they didn’t have the associates to volunteer. They wouldn’t do it if the workers weren’t happy.” L&T said those working Thanksgiving Day are indeed volunteers and will get holiday pay, and that a portion of the day’s sales will go to charity.

One salesperson at the Lord & Taylor flagship, who didn’t seem particularly excited at the prospect of working Thanksgiving Day, noted those who do will have some flexibility in their schedules for Black Friday if they were supposed to work then. Lord & Taylor will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

“We have new management,” said another selling associate at the store, giving one explanation for why he thought the Thanksgiving Day policy changed.

Just the flagship will be open on Thanksgiving. Suburban stores will be closed.

Source: WWD