BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Local package store owners are speaking out against a bill that would allow them to open their businesses on Thanksgiving Day.
The State House News reports that the owners argue that the amount of business they would do would not be worth the loss of family time for employees.
"We have lives just like the other residents of the community and there are so few days left in the year for any of us to have time with our families," said Massachusetts Package Stores Association Executive Director Frank Anzalotti. "We've always looked at Thanksgiving Day as probably the single, only family day of celebration when people have a chance to get together, and we view Thanksgiving Day as one that should remain closed so store owners have this opportunity."
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Anzalotti is one of the people who testified against the bill on Tuesday. The bill, filed by Dracut Rep. Colleen Garry (D), would allow liquor stores to open on Thanksgiving. Currently, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Christmas are the three holidays that state law bans liquor stores from opening.
Garry represents a community along the New Hampshire border, where liquor stores must compete with others across state lines that have different regulations.
But many Massachusetts store owners argued that it does not make financial sense to open on Thanksgiving. Steve Rubin’s store is near Northeastern University’s campus, and because students go home for the holiday, business is the slowest of the year.