Over the past decade, major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Best Buy have opened their doors on Thanksgiving to ingratiate themselves with shoppers. The trend began with midnight openings in 2011, and retailers have continued to push the envelope, opening earlier each year. On Thanksgiving Day 2019, JCPenney opened at 2 p.m. and Walmart opened at 6 p.m.
This tradition was not without controversy, but it seemed to remain.
That is, until COVID-19 hit the world and the retail industry in 2020. Virtually every major retailer has announced that it will close completely on Thanksgiving and hold a subdued shopping event on Black Friday.
In the years following the pandemic, and even in 2023, major retailers remained closed for the Thanksgiving holiday but held somewhat normal shopping events that began in the early hours of Black Friday.
So what will Thanksgiving 2024 mean? It’s still unfolding. Some major retailers have jumped in line and announced they will close on Türkiye Day (November 28 this year). According to shoppers, this is the right move. According to the 2021 Holiday Survey, 68% of U.S. shoppers said stores should be closed on Thanksgiving.
However, many retailers still have not announced their plans one way or another.
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Read on to find out which stores will be closing on Thanksgiving 2024. (Checked in real time) Are you curious about Black Friday business hours? Here we are checking with retailers.
Stores officially closed for business on Thanksgiving Day 2024
The following retailers have confirmed through public announcements or other direct communication with RetailMeNot that they will close on Thanksgiving 2024: We will update when we have further confirmation.
What about Black Friday? Retailers have strict Black Friday (November 29) plans, including store opening hours. We’ll keep you updated on major retailers’ opening hours and plans for in-store shoppers on Black Friday. Just ready to shop at dawn. Last year, Black Friday saw many retailers opening at 5 or 6 a.m.
It’s also important to remember that although stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, retailers will be offering Black Friday discounts online on Thanksgiving Day. Our friends at BlackFriday.com will be posting sales announcements from retailers, so you can see exactly what deals you can shop online this Thanksgiving.
Amazon (including grocery delivery)
Last year, Amazon Fresh grocery stores opened early in the morning to accommodate last-minute shoppers, while Amazon Go stores closed on Thanksgiving. We will confirm business hours for 2024 as soon as they are announced.
Can I order Amazon grocery delivery on Thanksgiving?
no. Amazon Fresh grocery delivery is not available on Thanksgiving Day. You can’t order Amazon Fresh delivery on Thanksgiving Day (in fact, if you try, you can’t use the “deliver today” filter, and the earliest option is tomorrow).
Academy Sports + Outdoor
We expect the store to close on Thanksgiving 2024. The Academy has a tradition of closing shop to allow team members to enjoy time with their families. Customers can access Academy’s wide range of vacation products online at Academy.com or through the Academy mobile app. It will reopen on Black Friday from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Belk
As in previous years, Belk is expected to close on Thanksgiving 2024, with most stores opening at 10 a.m. on Black Friday.
Best Buy
We expect Best Buy to also be closed on Thanksgiving 2024. Last year, it opened at 6 a.m. on Black Friday (an hour later than the 5 a.m. opening time in 2022).
BJ Wholesale
BJ’s is always closed on Thanksgiving and opens at 7 a.m. on Black Friday.
Boskov’s
Department stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day. As the CEO announced in 2022, this is the ‘new normal’.
costco
There are no surprises here. Costco was always closed on Thanksgiving even before COVID-19. It is also one of the only major retailers that closes on other federal holidays, such as New Year’s Day and Labor Day.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
As with last year, stores are expected to close on Thanksgiving and reopen at 6 a.m. on Black Friday. Official holiday times for November are announced.
DSW
Stores are closed.
game stop
Stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day.
home depot
The store will be closed on Thanksgiving and open at 6 a.m. for Black Friday shoppers.
hi-bee
The grocery store chain plans to close all stores again on Thanksgiving Day 2024, a tradition that began in 2022. In previous years, some stores remained open.
JCPenney
JCPenney has confirmed it will be closed on Thanksgiving and will open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday 2024. In-store shoppers can find bonus prizes at 5 a.m., 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Here are some beloved JCPenney Snow Globes: This is one of the giveaway items starting at 5am on Black Friday. Learn more about JCPenney’s Black Friday plans.
kohls
Kohl’s has confirmed that Kohl’s will once again be closed on Thanksgiving Day to allow employees to celebrate with their families. Open at 5am on Black Friday. We’re also running early Black Friday deals online and in stores throughout November.
lowes
Lowe’s is closed on Thanksgiving and opens at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.
Macy’s
We expect Macy’s to close on Thanksgiving 2024 and reopen at 6 a.m. on Black Friday. We will update you once store business hours are officially released.
michaels
Michaels has officially announced that it will be closed on Thanksgiving. On Black Friday we reopen at 7am.
petco
Petco is closed on Thanksgiving.
pet smart
PetSmart stores are closed on Thanksgiving.
ray
The outdoor retailer has a nine-year tradition of closing its doors on Thanksgiving and Black Friday while paying its employees and encouraging them to #OptOutside instead. And they announced that they would make this tradition permanent. From now on, REI will be permanently closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is closed on Thanksgiving (this is nothing new; it was closed on Turkey Day even before the pandemic). Also closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day (see holiday hours).
On Black Friday, doors open at 10 a.m. for regular shoppers and 8 a.m. for Plus members.
target
Target will close on Thanksgiving 2024. In fact, Target is once again continuing the “closed on Thanksgiving” trend. In January 2021, it was confirmed (10 months early) that it would be closed on Thanksgiving that year. And in a November 2021 memo to employees, the CEO said Target was Close for good on Thanksgiving.
Although Target’s doors are closed, early bird shoppers can jump in line to their heart’s content on Black Friday morning. The store opens at 6am.
Trader Joe’s
The store is also closed on Thanksgiving Day. Other local grocery chains are only open for limited Thanksgiving hours, so check the hours near you if you need some last-minute supplies.
Ulta
Ulta is closed on Thanksgiving.
walgreens
Walgreens will close most of its stores on Thanksgiving for the second year in a row. However, most 24-hour locations will remain open to serve those in need of a pharmacy.
“We consistently hear from our team members, the face of Walgreens, that holidays are a meaningful way to show them that we value them,” said Tracey D. Brown, Walgreens Retail President and Chief Customer Officer. “We are committed to listening to them, listening to their feedback and doing what is right for them. “I hope you have a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones.”
Walgreens faced a walkout last year by employees protesting working conditions.
walmart
Walmart has confirmed it will be closed again on Thanksgiving. Stores open at 6 a.m. for Black Friday shoppers.
Store to open on Thanksgiving 2024
We expect most retail stores to be closed for Thanksgiving this year, but some are traditionally open every year. Some are operating with reduced hours. They may not offer doorbusters on Thanksgiving, but you can expect the following stores to be open for pharmacies, groceries, and more. Grocery stores will likely have shorter operating hours than usual and close earlier.
- Albertsons
- aldi
- bass pro store: Open from 9 AM to 6 PM on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 28) and from 5 AM to 9 PM on Black Friday (Friday, November 29). Some exclusions apply as mall/shopping center operating hours apply to some retailers.
- big swallow: 2024 is undecided, but will remain open on Thanksgiving Day 2023.
- CVS: Pharmacy hours vary, but many stores (especially 24-hour stores) are open for shoppers.
- Cabela’s: Open from 9 AM to 6 PM on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 28) and from 5 AM to 9 PM on Black Friday (Friday, November 29). Some exclusions apply as mall/shopping center operating hours apply to some retailers.
- dollar plain
- family dollar
- huge
- harris teeter
- H.E.B. (until noon)
- hook
- meyer
- ralphs
- consciousness support: Pharmacy business hours may vary.
- Safeway
- Smart & Final
- Bean Sprout Farmers Market
- Starbucks: Some stores (including those within Target stores) are closed.
- let’s do it
- walgreens: Open 24 hours only
- Wegmans
- whole foods
We will update the list once the store confirms their plans. Even if stores are closed on Thanksgiving, it won’t have much of an impact on your shopping list. Most retailers begin trading online. In fact, if you don’t plan on shopping until Thanksgiving or Black Friday, you might want to think again. Most retailers are starting their holiday sales earlier than ever with massive early holiday sale events that run from October through December.
Are grocery stores open on Thanksgiving?
It depends on which chain it is and where it is located. While many major supermarket chains typically open in the morning, you can expect them to close much earlier than usual on Thanksgiving Day. Several chains, including Trader Joe’s and Hy-Vee, remain closed entirely.
If you want to shop in stores on Thanksgiving, check in advance when the stores you want to shop are open.
Can I order grocery delivery on Thanksgiving?
It depends. Last year, the same-day option on Amazon’s website for Amazon Fresh same-day delivery disappeared on Thanksgiving, with the earliest available option being Black Friday. Walmart Grocery Pickup and Delivery are not available for orders on Thanksgiving Day (at the time of confirmation, all “Delivery” and “Pickup” options were set to Friday at earliest and are not available for same-day availability on Thanksgiving Day).
However, some grocery stores offer same-day Thanksgiving delivery. So does Instacart! I found that a few delivery and pickup options were still available on Thanksgiving morning.
Can I order grocery delivery on Thanksgiving?
Yes, you can order through the delivery app of your choice as long as the restaurant is open and offering delivery.
Why are stores closed on Thanksgiving this year?
A variety of factors led to the store closing. Bringing in employees on major holidays (especially ones that involve family) is not a good look. Many of the stores that have closed say the reason they decided to close on Türkiye Day is to “give employees a day off.”
Plus, retailers don’t have much to lose by being closed on Thanksgiving (except for some hype). In 2020, online Thanksgiving spending broke records as the pandemic took hold. Shoppers may be more inclined to shop online on Türkiye Day if retailers can keep popular items in stock this year.
Stores closed by Thanksgiving 2024: The official list first appeared on RetailMeNot’s The Real Deal.
