Thanksgiving in the United States brings family, food, and a slower pace. It also brings a familiar moment. Someone realizes the turkey pan is too small, the whipped cream is missing, or the dog just knocked the last pack of paper plates on the floor. When that moment shows up, it helps to know exactly which stores are open and which doors stay locked for the holiday.
Over the last few years, Thanksgiving shopping has changed. Many of the biggest chains now stay closed all day so workers can be home. At the same time, many grocery stores, drugstores, dollar stores, and convenience chains still run on limited hours. This guide walks through the broad picture for Thanksgiving Day 2025 and gives you a clear sense of where you can still pick up last-minute essentials.
How Thanksgiving store hours look now
A decade ago, Thanksgiving shopping often blended into Black Friday. Big box stores opened late on Thursday and pushed “doorbuster” deals. That pattern has shifted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Since 2020, most major retailers have moved to a simple rule. Thanksgiving stays dark in their big stores, and the big in-person push starts early on Friday instead. Walmart, Target, Costco, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and many other chains now close on Thanksgiving as a matter of company policy.
This change spreads across the country. Newsrooms, local outlets, and corporate press rooms all describe the same pattern. Major retailers rest, while essential services and food-related stores run trimmed schedules.
Big national retailers that stay closed
For Thanksgiving Day 2025, the list of closed national chains is long. In other words, you can count on most big non-grocery retailers being closed all day.
Large general merchandise, warehouse, and department stores closed on Thanksgiving include:
- Walmart – All stores closed on Thanksgiving, a tradition that began in 2020 and continues through 2025.
- Target – All Target stores closed, part of a permanent policy announced in 2021 and reinforced in later updates.
- Costco and Sam’s Club – All warehouse clubs closed.
- BJ’s Wholesale Club – Keeps its tradition of closing on Thanksgiving.
- Best Buy – All stores closed, with extended hours on Black Friday instead.
- Home Depot and many Lowe’s locations – Closed for the holiday, reopening Friday with usual or extended hours.
- Macy’s, Kohl’s, T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, and similar off-price chains – Closed nationwide on Thanksgiving Day.
- Trader Joe’s – Closed nationwide on Thanksgiving, as well as Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
- REI – Closed on Thanksgiving and often on Black Friday as part of its long-running “Opt Outside” push.
These closures mean that your Thanksgiving Day errands lean more toward food, medicine, and last-minute household basics rather than big-ticket shopping.
Grocery chains that open with holiday hours
Even though many big box retailers stay dark, a long list of grocery chains open for part of the day. The pattern stays similar from year to year. Stores open morning through early or mid-afternoon, then close early so workers can head home.
National and regional full-line grocers
Many large grocers follow a “limited hours” plan. Examples for Thanksgiving 2025 include:
- Kroger and its brands – Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, and other banners stay open, generally from early morning until mid-afternoon. Many locations plan to close between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time, and in-store pharmacies stay closed all day.
- Albertsons family stores – Many Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, and related banners open in the morning and close by late afternoon, often around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., with some variation by region.
- Food Lion – Most locations open on Thanksgiving, often around 7 a.m., with closing times early in the afternoon, such as 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.
- Wegmans – Stores open as usual in the morning and typically close around 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
- Giant Food, Harris Teeter, and other Mid-Atlantic chains – Open with trimmed hours, often closing around 2 p.m. or a bit later.
- H-E-B – In Texas and nearby states, H-E-B stores generally open in the morning and close near midday, with pharmacies closed.
Stores stress that hours vary by location. Some urban sites and high-traffic areas may stay open a bit longer, while smaller or rural locations might close earlier. What Just Happened In The Comey and James Cases.
Natural and specialty markets
Natural and premium chains also keep Thanksgiving hours short and focused on last-minute food runs.
- Whole Foods Market – Many stores open around 7 a.m. and close around 1 p.m. or early afternoon. In New England states such as Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island, many or all locations remain closed for Thanksgiving due to local rules or company policies.
- Sprouts Farmers Market – Most locations open around 7 a.m. and close early afternoon, such as 2 p.m.
- The Fresh Market – Often open from about 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a strong focus on prepared holiday meals and specialty sides.
For hosts, these stores act as a safety net. You can still grab fresh herbs, stock, pie crusts, or a heat-and-serve ham, as long as you go before mid-afternoon.
Drugstores and pharmacies
Drugstores sit in a middle space. They provide essential care, but they also run large retail floors with snacks, cards, and home goods. In 2025, their Thanksgiving plans look more complex than a simple open or closed sign.
- CVS – Most CVS locations open with shortened hours, often roughly from mid-morning to late afternoon. Many guides list common ranges such as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Pharmacies often stay closed or run narrower hours than the front of the store. CVS locations inside Target do not open because Target itself is closed.
- Walgreens – For 2025, Walgreens is sharply limiting Thanksgiving operations. The company has announced a full 24-hour shutdown for most locations, with exceptions for a group of around 500 stores and several hundred 24-hour pharmacies. Those limited sites plan to continue serving customers with reduced hours.
- Rite Aid – Rite Aid policies vary across markets, but recent guidance and local roundups describe many locations, especially 24-hour stores, as open on Thanksgiving, with some regions shifting to full closures. Local store hours and regional notices matter more here than national generalizations.
For many families, a nearby drugstore fills in for last-minute needs like batteries, pain relievers, bandages, or simple pantry items. Still, the fine print matters. Some cities treat the holiday more strictly, and corporate changes can land on short notice, so checking the specific store before leaving home remains wise.
Dollar and discount chains
Dollar and closeout chains often remain open on Thanksgiving, and they can be handy for paper goods, canned items, and basic decor. Their hours, though, are almost always shorter than a normal weekday.
- Dollar General – Dollar General stores open on Thanksgiving Day with modified hours. Many roundups note typical hours like 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., with some locations trimming the evening window.
- Dollar Tree – Most Dollar Tree locations plan to open on Thanksgiving, often with hours such as 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., though some markets shift slightly earlier or later.
- Family Dollar – Many Family Dollar stores open for holiday shoppers, with common schedules like 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or other reduced windows. Some individual stores close for the day, so local listings still matter.
- Big Lots – Company statements and news reports describe Big Lots stores opening on Thanksgiving, often in a 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. window depending on region.
These stores give you a backup source for foil pans, storage containers, disposable tableware, and small decor items when full-line retailers remain closed. How to Change a Tire.
Convenience stores, gas stations, and local markets
Gas stations and convenience stores form the quiet backbone of Thanksgiving errands. Many national chains and independent stations keep their doors open, even when big box stores close their doors and flip the lights off.
Local and metro roundups from Atlanta, Jacksonville, and other cities highlight a simple pattern. If you need fuel, ice, drinks, or snack-level food, gas station convenience stores almost always remain open on Thanksgiving. Hours can still shift by location, but full closures are rare.
In dense neighborhoods, small family-owned markets and corner stores also remain open in many cases. Some treat Thanksgiving as a regular workday. Others close early. Because each one sets its own schedule, posted signs and quick phone calls help more than national lists.
Restaurants and coffee shops
Not every Thanksgiving meal happens at home. Many restaurants and cafes open for at least part of the day. Their hours and offerings vary, but the trend is steady.
- Starbucks – A large share of Starbucks locations open on Thanksgiving, though not all. Hours vary widely, and airport, hospital, and travel-center locations often run the longest shifts.
- Sit-down restaurants – Chains such as Cracker Barrel, along with regional restaurants and hotel dining rooms, often offer special Thanksgiving menus or buffets. Local station roundups highlight examples in cities like Jacksonville, Austin, and other metro areas.
- Grocery-attached cafes and hot bars – Markets like Whole Foods and The Fresh Market support prepared meal pickup and sometimes limited cafe service during their shortened store hours.
For anyone who prefers a restaurant meal or needs a backup plan due to travel, these options keep Thanksgiving flexible.
Services beyond retail
Shopping is only part of the Thanksgiving picture. The holiday touches banks, shipping, and financial markets as well.
Thanksgiving is a federal holiday, so federal offices, most state and local government buildings, post offices, and many public services close for the day. The U.S. Postal Service pauses normal mail delivery. UPS and FedEx halt standard pickup and delivery, aside from a few critical and express services.
U.S. stock and bond markets also close on Thanksgiving and reopen with shortened hours on Friday. Banks follow the federal holiday schedule, with branches closed Thursday and open again on Friday, sometimes with local adjustments. How Many Ounces in a Pound?
This wider context matters when you are planning travel, last-minute online orders, or in-person banking around the holiday week.
Holiday game plan for last-minute runs
Thanksgiving errands feel calmer when you know in advance how the day will work. The pattern for 2025 is clear. Most big box and department stores stay closed, while a wide mix of grocery chains, drugstores, dollar stores, convenience stores, and some restaurants stay open with shortened hours.
The safest approach uses a simple checklist. Essential food shopping works best early in the day at grocers like Kroger, Albertsons-family stores, Food Lion, Whole Foods, Wegmans, and other regional chains. Short runs for medicine, batteries, and toiletries fit well into a daytime visit to CVS, a 24-hour Walgreens or Rite Aid, or a nearby dollar store. Truly last-minute needs late in the day lean on gas station convenience stores and corner markets.
Most of all, planning around early closing times keeps the holiday peaceful. When your list is small and realistic, Thanksgiving errands become a short side trip rather than a source of stress.
