This year, several of the largest chain stores are opening on Thanksgiving for the first time ever. But some people are fighting back.

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Monday, Toys ‘R’ Us shocked the retail industry by announcing its stores would be open until 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving. K-Mart stores will be open all day on the holiday.

But an Omaha man's online petition asking Target Corp. to drop plans to open stores at midnight Thanksgiving Day has garnered tens of thousands of signatures in less than two weeks.

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Anthony Hardwick works part-time as a cart attendant in his second job. The 29-year-old launched his petition Nov. 3 after learning of the chain's plans to have employees report for work at 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Hardwick says the midnight opening means he and other Target employees will have to miss Thanksgiving gatherings in order to get enough rest and come in to work that night.

The petition asks that Target push back the opening to 5 a.m. Black Friday. It had nearly 88,000 signatures by midday Tuesday.

Minneapolis-based Target says the midnight opening is a response to customer demands.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.