Maine Law Prevents Big Box Stores From Opening On Thanksgiving

You see and hear the 'Black Friday' ads on television and radio. Some of the large national 'Big Box' stores like Walmart and Target are opening on Thanksgiving night. However, that won't be the case here in Maine. Maine has a so-called Blue Law on the books prohibiting retailers with more than 5,000 square feet of space from opening on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.The only exception in Maine is L.L.Bean, which is grandfathered. Walmart has 25 stores in Maine and they will be opening at 12:01 a.m. on Black Friday. Walmart spokeswoman Alexandra Serra said that people line up at their stores Thanksgiving night and they are welcome to do so, but doors open at 12:01 a.m. because that is the state law.

Due to exemptions in the law, movie theaters, restaurants, pharmacies and sporting goods are allowed to be open on Thanksgiving Day.

Maine's largest mall, the Maine Mall, will open it's doors at 6a.m. on Friday, November 23rd.