Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the nation, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day this year.

Last year, more than 150 stores in the mall opened at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, and many stayed open through the night, according to the Star Tribune.

"That is why this year we have made the decision to close on Thanksgiving Day", read the letter, co-authored by mall Executive Vice President Rich Hoge and Senior Vice President of Marketing Jill Renslow.

"Mall of America will be closed on Thanksgiving", the mall said in a statement on Wednesday.

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At the same time, after several disappointing Thanksgiving-Black Friday weekends, it could well be that beyond this feel-good reasoning, mall operators and stores have found that extended hours haven't led to more sales, but only more expenses. The center has been open on the holiday since 2012 and could inspire other shopping malls or stores to follow suit.

The change will affect about 1,200 people who work directly for the mall, and it could impact the 13,000 people who work for stores that are tenants in the mall. Numerous major retailers and malls have not made their plans for the Thanksgiving weekend season public.

For the first time ever, Mall of America will close its movie theater and its Nickelodeon Universe amusement park on Thanksgiving. The mall will also continue to host the Walk to End Hunger event Thanksgiving morning.