REI Closed For Black Friday... But Will Still Pay Employees

It's not unusual for a store to close on Thanksgiving....but one national chain has announced they'll be closed on Black Friday!

REI says they will pay their employees to get some fresh air on Black Friday.

The moment you go to REI's Website you are greeted with this message:

"For 76 years we’ve been dedicated to getting people outside. On 11/27 the co-op is closing all 143 stores so our employees can do just that. We hope to see you and all 5.5 million of our members out there too. #OptOutside"

According to WCVB, a statement from REI said "We're passionate about bringing you great gear, but we're even more passionate about the experiences it unlocks for all of us. Perhaps John Muir said it best back in 1901, 'Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home.' We think Black Friday is the perfect day to remind people of this essential truth."

Retailers such as GameStop and Staples announced they will remain closed on Thanksgiving, to allow employees time to be with their families. The national trend however shows more and more stores choosing to open on both Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

Additional Reporting by Kiah Heron