Tagged: Black Friday

Today is the first full day that Missouri lawmakers in both chambers can prefile bills for next year’s regular session.

One bill in particular comes in the wake of the annual holiday shopping surge that surrounds the Thanksgiving holiday weekend:  HB 37 would make it illegal for retail stores to open for business on Thanksgiving Day.  The proposal is sponsored by State Representative-Elect Jeff Roorda (D, Barnhart).  He says it’s in response to the ongoing push by retailers to open for business on nationally-recognized holidays.

Over the weekend, shoppers crowded area malls, big box stores and local businesses in search of holiday deals.

Saint Louis University Marketing Professor, James Fisher, says because the region is relatively unchallenged by another large retail market, its set up to benefit greatly from a strong holiday shopping season.

“Our isolated situation as a major metro area means that we have drawing power,” Fisher says.  “The magnitude of this consumption ritual allows us to draw people into the St. Louis market.”