Thanksgiving night: To shop or spend more time with family?

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- To shop or spend more time with family on Thanksgiving -- that's the big decision of the day for some people hoping to take advantage of some great bargains.

Every year stores open their doors earlier and earlier. "Black Friday" has turned into "Gray Thursday." And while millions of Americans will be wrapping up their Thanksgiving feast early to hit the shops, others are trying to keep the traditional Thanksgiving spirit alive.

The Ramirez-Guevara family decided to spend Thanksgiving at Griffith Park the traditional way.

"Just spending time with family," said Louie Felix. "We started a new tradition by coming out here to Griffith Park and get a family football and baseball game together."

The National Retail Federation estimates about 25 million Americans will shop on what is now dubbed "Gray Thursday."

"We've learned that in a down economy a bigger Black Friday weekend is a lot more likely. Meaning that consumers are simply very driven by that deal and that promotion and that extreme discount," said Kathy Grannis, a National Retail Federation spokesperson.

The Cisneros family is cashing in on Black Friday specials, even if it means being away from loved ones.

"We are shopping early before we go eat turkey," said shopper Edgar Cisneros. "We're going to be together with everybody, but in the meantime we can go shopping."

As far as Christina Ramirez-Guevera is concerned, all store should be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

"Thanksgiving is cooking, staying home. I don't do shopping. I stay home. Matter of fact, my turkey is in the oven," said Ramirez-Guevera.

Experts say retailers are simply catering to today's consumer.

"Millennials love the idea of shopping on Thanksgiving Day night," said Grannis. "They can leave their parents, they can ditch the pumpkin pie, escape doing the dishes, and head out with their friends to go see what kinds of deals retailers are offering."

The Ramirez-Guevara family says the deals can wait. They'll focus on being thankful.

"Thank God for my family, my grandchildren, my daughters, my family -- that's what Thanksgiving is for me," said Ramirez-Guevara. "Being thankful for a healthy life."

Experts also say Gray Thursday shopping is taking a bite out of Black Friday profits. Still, they estimate that more than 100 million Americans will be shopping on Friday.