State law limits Thanksgiving store openings

AUGUSTA – As the holiday season approaches, the attorney general reminds Maine businesses and consumers that Maine law prohibits retail stores with more than 5,000 square feet of customer selling space from being open for business on Thanksgiving Day.

The law also prohibits stores of this size from opening for business on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.

Although the law allows such stores to conduct business on Sundays and other holidays, these three holidays are excluded and stores must remain closed on these days.

The penalties for violating this law are serious. A retail store of larger than 5.000 square feet risks fines of $100 and imprisonment of 30 days for each violation of the law. Each separate sale constitutes a separate offense. Thus, a store that opens for business on these holidays could end up with substantial penalties, especially if it has a busy sales day.

The attorney general is serious about enforcing this law, which is designed to protect Maine workers by allowing them at least three days off a year. Out-of-state owners conducting business in Maine should be mindful that they are subject to Maine’s law governing Sunday and holiday sales, even if their states do not have such laws.

“If the store you work in has more than 5.000 square feet of selling space, and your boss is expecting you to work these holidays, do yourself and your employer a favor and remind them of this law,” said Attorney General Andrew Ketterer.

Anyone with questions about this law or whether a certain store should remain open should contact the Attorney General’s Office at 626-8800.