Online Petition: Do Not Open Mall On Thanksgiving

DEPTFORD, N.J., (CBS) – An online petition is asking a local mall not to open on Thanksgiving Day.

The petition on Change.org is titled, "Do Not Open Deptford Mall On Thanksgiving Day."

"It is taking people away from a holiday that is based around spending time with friends & family," the letter to the mall's senior property manager reads, in part.

The mall operating hours this year will be 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Thanksgiving, according to the mall's marketing manager.

"Please note, our hours are actually a factor of decisions made by our department stores and the majority of our specialty retailers who choose to be open on Thanksgiving Day.

We have set our hours to open our doors so that those retailers can conduct their business," she said.

The petition was started two weeks ago and has 600 supporters at this time.

Last year, many malls and retailers across the area opened for business on Thanksgiving Day.