In most of the country, national chains like Best Buy and Target open their doors on Thanksgiving Day. But in Massachusetts, a state law keeps shoppers at the dinner table.
The Bay State’s blue laws ban supermarkets, big boxes and department stores from opening on Thanksgiving.
But for customers desperate to escape their families or get a head start on holiday shopping, there are other options: They can drive down to Connecticut or up to New Hampshire or shop online.
"We need to see if the blue laws are stopping Massachusetts residents from shopping on Thanksgiving, or just stopping them from shopping in the bay state economy,” said Jon Hurst of the Massachusetts Retailers Association.
Hurst says his association doesn't take a position on whether to change the law. But for his part, he’d rather stay on the couch and watch football.
There are exceptions to the ban, including gas stations, florists and convenience stores.
