For the better part of a decade, major retailers like Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, Macy’s and Best Buy courted shoppers (and controversy) by opening their doors on Thanksgiving. This trend started in 2011 with midnight opens — and retailers then kept pushing the envelope, opening earlier every year. In 2019, JCPenney opened at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and Walmart opened at 6 p.m.
While this tradition wasn’t without controversy, it seemed here to stay.
That is, until COVID-19 hit the world and the retail industry in 2020. Practically all major retailers announced they’d be completely closed on Thanksgiving Day and would be holding subdued shopping events on Black Friday.
In the years following the pandemic and again in 2023, major retailers stayed closed on the Thanksgiving holiday, but held more-or-less normal shopping events that started in the wee hours on Black Friday.
So what does this mean for Thanksgiving 2024? It’s still unfolding. Some major retailers are holding the line and announcing they’ll stay closed on Turkey Day (Nov. 28 this year). And that’s the right move, according to shoppers: 68% of U.S. shoppers said stores should be closed on Thanksgiving, according to our 2021 holiday survey.
But many retailers still haven’t announced their plans one way or the other.
Read on to see which stores will remain shuttered on Thanksgiving Day 2024 (we’re confirming in real time). Curious about Black Friday hours? We are confirming those with retailers here.
Stores Officially Closed on Thanksgiving Day 2024
The following retailers have confirmed via a public announcement or other direct communication with RetailMeNot that they’ll be closed on Thanksgiving Day 2024. We’ll be updating as more confirm.
What about Black Friday? Retailers closely guard their Black Friday (Nov. 29) plans, including store hours. We’ll keep you updated about when major retailers will be open on Black Friday and what their plans are for in-store shoppers. Just expect to be ready to shop at the crack of dawn. Last year, we saw plenty of retailers opening their doors as early as 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. on Black Friday.
It’s also important to note that while stores will be closed on Thanksgiving, retailers will very much be offering Black Friday deals online on Thanksgiving, if not earlier. Our friends at BlackFriday.com will be posting retailers’ sale announcements, so you can see exactly which deals will be shoppable online on Thanksgiving.
Amazon (Including Grocery Delivery)
Last year Amazon Fresh grocery stores were open early in the day for last-minute shoppers, Amazon Go stores were closed Thanksgiving. We will confirm 2024’s hours as soon as they are released.
Can You Order Amazon Grocery Delivery On Thanksgiving?
No. Amazon Fresh grocery delivery is not available on Thanksgiving. It’s not possible to order Amazon Fresh delivery on Thanksgiving for Thanksgiving (in fact, if you try to, the “deliver today” filter is not available, and the soonest option is tomorrow).
Academy Sports + Outdoors
We predict stores will be closed on Thanksgiving 2024. Academy has a tradition of closing stores so team members can enjoy time together with family. Customers can access Academy’s wide assortment of holiday deals online at Academy.com or through the Academy mobile app. They’ll re-open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Black Friday.
Belk
Similar to previous years, we expect Belk will be closed on Thanksgiving 2024, with most stores opening 10 a.m. on Black Friday.
Best Buy
We predict Best Buy will stay closed on Thanksgiving in 2024. Last year they opened at 6 a.m. on Black Friday (an hour later than its 5 a.m. opening time in 2022).
BJ’s Wholesale
BJ’s has always closed on Thanksgiving, and will open its doors at 7 a.m. on Black Friday.
Boscov’s
The department store will be closed on Thanksgiving. It’s a “new norm” according to an announcement from its CEO in 2022.
Costco
No surprises here. Costco has always stayed closed on Thanksgiving, even prior to COVID-19. It’s also one of the only major retailers that close on other federal holidays like New Year’s Day and Labor Day.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
We predict like last year stores will stay closed on Thanksgiving and open back up at 6 a.m. on Black Friday. Official holiday hours are released in November.
DSW
Stores will be closed.
GameStop
Stores will stay closed on Thanksgiving.
Home Depot
Stores will stay closed on Thanksgiving Day and open at 6 a.m. for Black Friday shoppers.
Hy-Vee
The grocery store chain will be closing all locations on Thanksgiving again in 2024, a tradition it started in 2022. In previous years, some locations remained open.
JCPenney
JCPenney has confirmed it will be closed on Thanksgiving and will be open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday 2024. In-store shoppers will find bonus giveaways at 5 a.m., 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The beloved JCPenney Snow Globe is going to be one of the giveaway items starting at 5 a.m. on Black Friday. Learn more about JCPenney’s Black Friday plans.
Kohl’s
Kohl’s has confirmed it will Kohl’s will once again be closed on Thanksgiving Day allowing associates to celebrate with their families. They will open at 5 a.m. on Black Friday. It’s also running online and in-store early Black Friday deals all November long.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s will be closed on Thanksgiving and will open at 6 a.m. on Black Friday.
Macy’s
We predict Macy’s will stay closed on Thanksgiving 2024 and reopen at 6 a.m. on Black Friday. We will update you after the store hours are released officially.
Michaels
Michaels officially announced that they will close for Thanksgiving Day. They will reopen at 7 a.m. on Black Friday.
Petco
Petco will stay closed on Thanksgiving.
PetSmart
PetSmart stores will stay closed on Thanksgiving.
REI
The outdoor retailer has a long-standing nine-year tradition of closing on Thanksgiving AND on Black Friday, while still paying its employees and encourage everyone to #OptOutside instead. And it has announced that it’s making this tradition permanent. From here on, REI will be permanently closed on Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club will be closed on Thanksgiving (that’s nothing new — it stayed closed on Turkey Day even before the pandemic). It’ll also be closed Christmas and New Year’s Day (see its holiday hours).
On Black Friday it will open 10 a.m. for regular shoppers and at 8 a.m. for Plus members.
Target
Target will be closed on Thanksgiving 2024. In fact, Target has been owning the new-again “staying closed on Thanksgiving” trend. Back in January 2021, it confirmed (10 months early) that it would be closed that Thanksgiving of that year. And in November 2021, its CEO announced in a note to employees that Target will forever stay closed on Thanksgiving.
While Target’s doors will remain closed, early-bird shoppers can line up to their hearts’ content on Black Friday morning — stores will open at 6 a.m.
Trader Joe’s
Stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day. Other local grocery chains will be open for limited Thanksgiving hours, so be sure to check hours near you, if you need some last-minute ingredients.
Ulta
Ulta will be closed on Thanksgiving.
Walgreens
For the second year in a row, Walgreens will close most of its stores on Thanksgiving. Note that most 24-hour locations will remain open, however, to serve those who have pharmacy needs.
“We have consistently heard from our team members—who are the face of Walgreens—that time off is a meaningful way for us to demonstrate we value them,” said Tracey D. Brown, EVP, President Walgreens Retail & Chief Customer Officer. “We heard them, are committed to listening to their feedback and are dedicated to doing what is right for them. We hope they can enjoy the holiday and spend time with their loved ones.”
We’ll note that Walgreens had been facing walk-outs from employees protesting their working conditions last year.
Walmart
Walmart has confirmed it once again be CLOSED on Thanksgiving. Stores will open 6 a.m. for Black Friday shoppers.
Stores That Will Be Open on Thanksgiving 2024
While we expect most retailers to be closed on Thanksgiving this year, a few are traditionally open every year — though some operate at reduced hours. While they might not be offering doorbusters on Thanksgiving, you can expect the following to be open for pharmacy needs, groceries and more. Note that the grocery stores will have shorter-than-usual hours and will likely close early.
- Albertsons
- Aldi
- Bass Pro Shops: They will be open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving (Thursday, 11/28) and from 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Black Friday (Friday, 11/29). Some exclusions apply, as a few of their retail stores are subject to the hours of malls/shopping centers.
- Big Lots: TBD for 2024, but it stayed open on Thanksgiving in 2023.
- CVS: Pharmacy hours vary, but many locations (especially 24-hour locations) will be open for shoppers.
- Cabela’s: They will be open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving (Thursday, 11/28) and from 5 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Black Friday (Friday, 11/29). Some exclusions apply, as a few of their retail stores are subject to the hours of malls/shopping centers.
- Dollar General
- Family Dollar
- Giant
- Harris Teeter
- HEB (until noon)
- Kroger
- Meijer
- Ralphs
- Rite Aid: Pharmacy hours will vary.
- Safeway
- Smart & Final
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Starbucks: Some locations (including those inside Target stores) will be closed.
- Vons
- Walgreens: 24-hour locations ONLY
- Wegmans
- Whole Foods
We’ll be updating our list as stores confirm their plans. Note that stores being closed on Thanksgiving shouldn’t affect your shopping list much. Most retailers will launch deals online. In fact, if you’re not thinking about shopping until Thanksgiving or Black Friday, you may want to reconsider. Most retailers are starting their holiday sales earlier than ever, with major early holiday savings events starting in October and stretching through December.
Are Grocery Stores Open On Thanksgiving?
It depends on which chain and which location. In general, you can expect many major supermarket chains to be open in the morning, but to close much earlier than usual on Thanksgiving Day. A few chains remain entirely closed, including Trader Joe’s and Hy-Vee.
If you want to shop in stores on Thanksgiving, make sure to check ahead of time to see when (and if!) the store you want to shop at will be open.
Can I Order Grocery Delivery on Thanksgiving?
It depends. Last year, Amazon’s same-day option on its website for Amazon Fresh same-day delivery disappeared on Thanksgiving, and the earliest option is Black Friday. Walmart grocery pickup and delivery aren’t available to order on Thanksgiving (when we checked, all “delivery” and “pickup” options were set to Friday at the earliest — no same-day availability for Thanksgiving).
However, some grocery stores do offer same-day Thanksgiving delivery. And therefore, so does Instacart! On Thanksgiving morning, we found a few delivery and pickup options still available.
Can I Order Grocery Delivery on Thanksgiving?
Yes, if the restaurant is open and offers delivery, you can order via your delivery app of choice.
Why Are Stores Closing on Thanksgiving This Year?
A variety of factors are compelling stores to remain closed. Calling workers in on a major national holiday (especially a holiday associated with family) simply isn’t a good look. Many of the stores remaining closed are citing “giving their employees a day off” as the reason for their decision to close their doors on Turkey Day.
Plus, retailers don’t have much to lose (except maybe some hype) by closing on Thanksgiving. In 2020, with the pandemic in full swing, Thanksgiving online spending broke records. If retailers can keep popular items in stock this year, shoppers will likely be more than happy to shop online on Turkey Day.
The post Stores Staying Closed on Thanksgiving 2024: The Official List appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
