Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27, 2025) has officially become a day off for most employees of major national retailers.
Continuing a years-long trend, nearly all big-box, department, and specialty stores will remain closed to prioritize family time before the rush of Black Friday. However, essential services like pharmacies, gas stations, and some grocery stores will maintain limited, truncated hours to accommodate last-minute holiday needs.
6 Key Facts on Stores Open and Closed on Thanksgiving 2025
Major Retailers Remain Closed: Virtually all big-name department stores, big-box stores, and specialty retailers—including Walmart, Target, Costco, Macy's, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Kohl's—will be closed nationwide. This closure has become the norm since 2020.
Focus Shifts to Online and Black Friday Morning: Retailers use the Thanksgiving closure to concentrate their sales efforts. Deals are heavily promoted online starting on Thanksgiving Day (Cyber Week kickoff), and employees prepare for the massive rush when doors open early (5 AM or 6 AM) on Black Friday.
Grocery Stores are Open, But Close Early: If you need last-minute ingredients, most national grocery chains will be open, but with significantly reduced hours. Chains like Kroger, Whole Foods Market, and Wegmans typically close in the early-to-mid afternoon (e.g., 1 PM to 4 PM).
Pharmacies and Convenience Stores Remain Lifelines: Essential services are the exception. Most CVS and Walgreens locations (especially 24-hour stores) will be open, often with reduced hours, while convenience chains like 7-Eleven and Dollar General mostly operate on normal or slightly shortened schedules.
Fast Food and Select Dining Will Be Open: Many national fast-food chains like McDonald's, Starbucks, and Burger King will have locations open, though hours will vary widely by local franchise. Sit-down chains like Denny's or IHOP are also popular options for holiday dining.
Government and Financial Services are Fully Closed: Beyond retail, all U.S. banks, the Stock Market, Government offices, and Post Offices (including standard mail delivery and standard FedEx/UPS services) are fully closed for the federal holiday.
Summary: Most major U.S. stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, continuing the trend of prioritizing employee time off ahead of the Black Friday rush. Your best bets for last-minute needs are local grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores, all operating on limited holiday schedules.
