'Near Riot' Closes Watchung Wal-Mart on Thanksgiving

Ordinance passes that will close all stores in town from 10 p.m. to midnight.

After a scene described by several as a "near riot" during last year's Thanksgiving night special sales at Wal-Mart, the Watchung Borough Council has passed an ordinance closing all stores in town from 10 p.m. to midnight Thanksgiving night. The ordinance passed, despite objections from Wal-Mart attorney Tracy Siebold, who said the ordinance had "legal deficiencies," such as requiring businesses, including convenience stores and gas stations, to close as written. "We would pray upon the council to delay this ordinance," Siebold said. Wal-Mart store manager Chris Igoe also outlined changes in the way the store planned to handle crowds during the special Black Friday sales this year that he said were designed to avoid the kinds of crowd …

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