Outdoor gear retailer REI, which plans to open a Chattanooga store next year off Shallowford Road near Interstate 75, made headlines when it announced it would close not only on Thanksgiving - but on Black Friday, as well - for the third year in a row to encourage its customers and employees to get outdoors during the long weekend that's the busiest shopping time of the year.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, two hunting and fishing mega-stores with Chattanooga-area outlets along I-75 - Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's - will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day so shoppers can take advantage of sales.
What hours to keep during the Thanksgiving Day weekend is one question that shopping malls and giant retailers grapple with as they figure out how to make the most of the estimated 164 million Americans who will shop during the 2017 Thanksgiving weekend, according to survey results released by the National Retail Federation.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 11/26/15. Shoppers form a massive line waiting for JC Penny to open at 3pm on Thanksgiving day as the Black Friday shopping deals begin early again this year. 
Both upper and lower levels were crowded with shoppers on Black Friday last year inside Hamilton Place mall. The mall's owner, Chattanooga-based CBL Properties, has opted to close its "market dominant" shopping centers on Thanksgiving Day.The survey found that 20 percent, or 32 million people, plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday will remain the busiest day with 70 percent, or 115 million people, planning to shop then. A substantial 43 percent, or 71 million people, are expected to shop on Saturday, with 76 percent saying they will do so specifically to support Small Business Saturday.
Chattanooga-based mall owner CBL Properties will close its "market dominant" regional shopping centers, including its Chattanooga malls Hamilton Place and Northgate, on Thanksgiving Day and reopen at 6 a.m. Black Friday for the second year in a row.
"The support that we received last year when we made this decision was overwhelmingly positive," Stephen Lebovitz, president and CEO of CBL Properties, said in a news release. "It is based on feedback from our retail partners, employees of CBL and retailers at our properties, as well as the customers in our markets that we made the decision to again close our centers on Thanksgiving Day."
Department stores, movie theaters, restaurants, and retailers with exterior entrances to CBL Properties malls will have the option to open their stores on Thursday. However, access to mall common areas will be restricted.
Target stores here and around the nation will stay open on Thanksgiving Day - but the Minneapolis-based discounter dialed back its shopping hours.
Instead of opening late on Thanksgiving and staying open all night long, Target says it will open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving and then close at midnight local time. Its stores will then reopen at 6 a.m. local time on Friday until 10 p.m., 11 p.m. or midnight local time.
Like other retailers, Target is trying to figure out what makes sense for its customers who are jumping back and forth between online and the stores. It learned that while shoppers like the opportunity to shop on Thanksgiving and Black Friday at its stores, the crowds thinned out in the wee hours of the morning. Store executives also said the new hours give employees a chance to refresh merchandise.
Some stores will stick with marathon shopping hours.
Toys "R" Us will open its doors at 5 p.m. local time on Thanksgiving and remain open for 30 straight hours of shopping.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomarzu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/MeetsForBusiness or on Twitter @meetforbusiness or 423-757-6651.
Stores open on Thanksgiving Day 2017
Bass Pro Shops – 8 a.m. to 6 p.mBelk – Thanksgiving 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Black FridayBest Buy – Thanksgiving 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Black FridayBig Lots -7 a.m. to midnightCabela’s – 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.CVS Pharmacy (hours not yet announced)Dick’s Sporting Goods – Thanksgiving 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Black FridayDollar General – 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.Dunham’s Sports – Thanksgiving 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Black FridayGameStop – 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.JCPenney – Thanksgiving 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Black FridayKohl’s – Thanksgiving 5 p.m. to 1 p.m. CT Black Friday (doorbusters end this time)Michaels – 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Opens at 5 p.m. for Rewards members.Rite Aid – Hours vary by location (most stores open)Sears – 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.Target – 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.Toys R Us – Thanksgiving 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Black FridayWalgreens – Varies by locationWalmart – 6 p.m.Source: bestblackfriday.com