Macy's "Black Friday" sales will begin 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day

After rumors of its store hours were leaked to the press, Macy's has confirmed it will open its department store doors at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, cutting the holiday feast short of dessert.

For several years, retailers have been opening earlier and earlier to attract more Black Friday shoppers, now having moved their door opening times far into the holiday.

This isn't the first time Macy's has opened its doors on Thanksgiving. Just last year, Macy's opened for the first time on Thanksgiving at 8 p.m., and other stores including J.C. Penny, Target, and Wal-Mart also opened before midnight on Black Friday.

Macy's spokeswoman Holly Thomas told ABC that its flagship store in Herald Square, NYC broke records with more than 15,000 in line on Thanksgiving Day.

"With the growing customer-driven trend toward early shopping for Black Friday each year, Macy's aims to accommodate customers who count on us to be there when they are ready to shop, said Thomas in an email. The even earlier opening time has been "In response to the significant, sustained customer interest in last year's opening on Thanksgiving."

Though former critics of stores opening on Thanksgiving are not expected to be as outraged as previous. Steve Osburn of consulting firm Kurt Salmon told USA Today that "Consumers have started to accept that shopping on Thanksgiving is a growing habit."

"With consumer acceptance comes more people shopping," said Osburn.

Thomas also said that the majority of the Thanksgiving Day shifts are filled voluntarily, with employees receiving holiday pay compensation, and many thankful for the chance to take off the next day to shop on Black Friday. According to a press release, approximately 86,000 seasonal positions will be hired this year to serve Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores for the 2014 holiday season.

Macy's is the first major retailer to announce their store hours for Black Friday weekend, starting from 6 p.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. the following Friday.

Will you be ending Thanksgiving early to get an early shopping start? Let us know in the comments below.