As Thanksgiving Day approaches, many are already speculating about which stores are going to be closed or open for various reasons in celebration of the holiday, including Black Friday. On Monday, famous outdoor gear store REI announced that it will be closed to make way for some family time and urge people to stay outdoors rather than shop.

Only a few stores have apparently announced that they will be cutting back on the possible sales that they can get from shoppers, who are all on vacation for Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, and this included the REI store.

In a statement quoted by CBS Denver from REI, the store announced its recent advocacy to urge people to simply have a great day outdoors instead of shopping, including their employees, who will have a memorable Black Friday not having to report for work.

"Instead of reporting to work, we're paying our employees to do what we love most - be outside," REI said in a statement. "We're passionate about bringing you great gear, but we're even more passionate about the experiences it unlocks for all of us ... on this one day, we're going to #OptOutside and we want you to join us."

Meanwhile, a Denver REI employee was happy with the news. Denver REI employee Pete Citrano said, "I started yelling before the final words came out of his mouth and crying."

"Twenty years I've been a part of this co-op and I couldn't be more proud, 20 years I haven't had Black Friday off," Citrano added. Apparently, the employees of the famous gear store will still receive their pay even though they are not required and even urged not to report for work and just enjoy the holidays, Fortune reports.

The news broke after a petition circulated urging retail stores to be closed on holidays even though, reportedly, more people are expected to purchase various products during that time. However, it is speculated that this year, retail sales are only projected to grow 2.4 percent, another Fortune report said.

While the REI store is one with being outdoors for the holidays, Macys, however, announced that it will even have a special opening of their 800 stores exactly on Thanksgiving Day at 8 p.m. "after families across the country have finished their holiday meals and celebrations," Macys announcement reads, per Fortune.

However, REI, Staples, GameStop, Costco, BJ's, Nordstrom, Sam's Club, Home Depot, Barnes and Noble, Crate and Barrel, Burlington Coat Factory, Patagonia, Sur La Table, Harbor Freight, At Home, Von Maur, Mattress Firm and Half Price Books will all be closed for the holidays.