REI First Store To CLOSE On Black Friday

In an unprecedented move, REI announced that it's Boise store will be among the 143 retail stores and online distributing centers that will remained closed as Black Friday shopping begins.

According to KTVB, the chain's CEO will grant his employees a paid holidays on Black Friday instead of having them hustle the store floor during one of the biggest shopping days of the year.  He's encouraging those employees to spend to #OptOutside with their families and go do something active that isn't shopping.

A big chalkboard is already up at the Boise store asking customers to write down their black Friday plans on it.  Responses so far include mountain biking, skiing and putting up the Christmas tree.

No other stores have jumped on this new trend, but Game Stop and Staples have said they will NOT be opening on Thanksgiving night for early "Black Friday" sales.