Human Interest Target Stores Will Never Be Open on Thanksgiving Again, Company Announces: 'Our New Standard' While Target stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, some staff members will still be working for distribution and call centers By Nicholas Rice Nicholas Rice Instagram Twitter Nicholas Rice is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE Magazine. He began working with the brand as an Editorial Intern in early 2020, before later transitioning to a freelance role, and then staff positions soon after. Nicholas writes and edits anywhere between 7 to 9 stories per day on average for PEOPLE, spanning across each vertical the brand covers. Nicholas has previous work experience with Billboard, POPSUGAR, Bustle and Elite Daily. When not working, Nicholas can be found playing with his 5 dogs, listening to pop music or eating mozzarella sticks. People Editorial Guidelines Published on November 22, 2021 12:58 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Target. Photo: John Greim/LightRocket/Getty Target is standing by its employees and letting them enjoy the holiday season with their loved ones for years to come. On Monday, the company — which had already said stores would be closed this year for Thanksgiving Day — announced that moving forward, its stores will never be open again during the annual fall holiday. In excerpts from a note sent to employees on Monday, which was obtained by PEOPLE, Target CEO Brian Cornell wrote, "Today, I'm making it official: we're going to keep our stores closed on future Thanksgivings too.""What started as a temporary measure driven by the pandemic is now our new standard — one that recognizes our ability to deliver on our guests' holiday wishes both within and well beyond store hours," he added. "You don't have to wonder whether this is the last Thanksgiving you'll spend with family and friends for a while, because Thanksgiving store hours are one thing we won't 'get back to' when the pandemic finally subsides." The Associated Press reported that Target first opened its stores on Thanksgiving a decade ago in order to compete with Amazon and other online retailers. While stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day, some staff members will still be working for distribution and call centers, according to the AP. Walmart Will Be Closed on Thanksgiving This Year — and So Will Target, Home Goods and These Other Stores Target. Ringo H W Chiu/AP/Shutterstock Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. This year, various U.S. retailers and big-box stores will keep their businesses closed on Thanksgiving Day. Back in January, Target became one of the first retailers to issue a statement that its stores will be closed this Thanksgiving. The company had previously closed its stores in 2020 to reduce crowds and make the shopping experience less stressful for customers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In June, Walmart also announced that for the second year in a row all its store locations will be closed. The purpose of the closure, Walmart said, is to say "thank you" to employees for their commitment and hard work throughout the health crisis. Holiday Shopping? What to Know About the Shortages and Supply Chain Issues Causing Major Problems for Stores Best Buy announced its own closure soon after Walmart. "This year, we'll have even more ways for customers to easily and conveniently get their holiday shopping done, over the Black Friday weekend and throughout the entire holiday season," Best Buy spokesperson Keegan Shoutz told USA Today at the time. Various malls across the country will also be closed on Thanksgiving this year. Simon, one of the largest mall operators in the U.S., previously announced its shopping centers, malls and properties will be closed on Thanksgiving Day as well. Target made People's annual 100 Companies That Care list in 2021. To nominate a business demonstrating outstanding respect for its employees, community and the environment, visit Great Place to Work.