Long Island pol to stores: Take Thanksgiving break

Closed for Thanksgiving? A Long Island politician wants to make big stores shut down for the holiday for at least few hours.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy said Wednesday he intends to propose requiring retail stores that measure more than 7,500 square feet to close from noon to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. His proposal is modeled on a similar law in Maine. It wouldn't apply to supermarkets.

Levy says he wants to ensure workers can spend time with their families, and small businesses feel compelled to open if big-box stores do.

A spokeswoman for Kmart owner Sears Holding Corp. says Kmart opens on Thanksgiving for customers' sake. She says customers want to be able to start holiday shopping — and pick up last-minute items for their Thanksgiving tables.