Most big-box retail stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, and Best Buy are closed on Thanksgiving Day now, while many grocery and convenience chains operate with limited or modified hours. Exact hours vary a lot by location, so checking your specific store online or by phone is essential.
Commonly open on Thanksgiving
Many of these are at least partly open, often with reduced hours and sometimes with closed pharmacies:
- National grocery chains (for example, Kroger, Meijer, Food Lion, Sprouts, Whole Foods) often open in the morning and close mid‑afternoon or early evening, depending on the chain and local laws.
- Dollar and discount chains such as Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Big Lots commonly open, though hours are typically shorter than normal.
- Convenience and pharmacy chains like many CVS and Walgreens locations, as well as some 24/7 or gas‑station–based convenience stores, tend to open, but hours and pharmacy availability can differ by store.
Commonly closed on Thanksgiving
A growing list of major retailers remain fully closed on Thanksgiving:
- Big-box and department stores such as Walmart, Target, Costco, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, and many mall clothing/home chains now close for the day nationwide.
- Warehouse and specialty grocers like Costco and Trader Joe’s are typically fully closed.
- Many regional supermarkets (for example, Publix, some Lidl locations, and certain New England chains) also choose to close entirely.
How to find what’s open near you
- Look up “store name + Thanksgiving hours + your city/state” on the store’s official site or map apps and confirm for this year, since policies change.
- Use each chain’s store locator; most list special holiday hours for Thanksgiving separately from normal hours.
- Call the specific location if your area has blue laws or special holiday rules, since these can override national policies, especially for alcohol or late‑night sales.
