New York, N.Y. -Target stores will open their doors at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving, three hours earlier than a year ago, to kick off the holiday shopping season.
Target joins other major retailers that are opening earlier on the holiday and staggering deals over the two-day period.
Over the years, stores have been expanding their hours on Black Friday to get ahead of the competition, but the kickoff is increasingly happening right after shoppers finish their turkey feast.
"We thought long and hard about when the right opening time would be," said Kathee Tesija, Target's executive vice president of merchandising. She said that 9 p.m. struck "a perfect balance" for its customers.
Walmart and Sears announced they'll be opening at 8 p.m. Kohl's and Macy's will open at midnight.