11 Retailers That’ll Close On Thanksgiving (And Others That’ll Have “Funky” Hours)

Thinking of running out to the store to take advantage of smaller crowds during Thanksgiving? You may need to think again since many retailers will be closing their doors entirely — or else opening for a shorter period of time than normal — to allow employees to spend more time at home with their families.

According to a 2021 poll from Deloitte, a whopping 75% of customers support the decision to close brick-and-mortar stores to shopping on Thanksgiving. Many shoppers are more interested in spending the day with their families anyway.

Keep reading to learn which stores will be closed, including a few that will be sending employees home early, and which ones will be opening up early on Black Friday for anyone looking to save money shopping this holiday season.

You may be excited to score some great holiday deals on electronics at your local Best Buy, but you’ll have to shop before or after Thanksgiving when the store will be closed.

Don’t worry, though; Best Buy is preparing plenty of deals this year. Sales and discounts will be announced throughout the season starting on November 8, 2024.

You’ll be out of luck if you want to try Trader Joe’s for some last-minute items for your Thanksgiving feast.

The retailer plans to close all of its U.S. locations on Nov.28, so make sure you get your Turkeyless Stuffed Roast from the store for your vegan and vegetarian family members before the big day.

You won’t be able to get a jump on holiday shopping in person at Walmart as the retailer will close all locations so employees can spend the day with their families, according to a statement from the company.

That being said, the retailer has already begun cutting costs on popular items to help ease the financial burden this holiday season, so check out your local store now if you’re looking for something in particular.

Be sure to grab everything you’ll need to make mashed potatoes and stuffing during your next Costco run because the store will be closed on Thanksgiving.

Of course, this news may not be a surprise to some Costco fans as the company has a history of closing its doors for the holidays, which is why it won’t be open on New Year’s Day or Labor Day either.

JCPenney will go dark on Thanksgiving, which may be a good thing since it will give shoppers extra time to sleep Thursday night since stores plan to open early at 5 a.m. on Black Friday for those early bird customers.

Another store that you won’t be able to use as a backup if you forget something while Thanksgiving dinner is Aldi, since the retailer will be closed that day.

Aldi actually shuts down a few times throughout the year — New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day — and offers reduced hours during other holidays so that employees can spend more time with their families.

You might miss the mark if you try to shop at Target on Thanksgiving as the retailer will be closed for the holiday.

In 2023, Target CEO Brian Cornell announced that the retailer would be permanently changing its policy so that employees could take the day off after getting a lot of positive responses to the temporary shutdowns the company began for the holiday in 2020.

REI will really be encouraging you to go outside with its holiday shutdown as the outdoor retailer will again be giving its employees days off for both Thanksgiving and Black Friday as part of its “Opt Outside” plan for workers.

“Opt Outside is a reminder of the impact that time outside has on our well-being,” said Eric Artz, president and CEO of REI, in an announcement about the day off. “What used to be one of the most chaotic days for our employees is now one where they can do what they love.”

Thanksgiving is one of only four days during the calendar year when Sam’s Club completely closes its doors to customers.

You’ll also be out of luck if you try to shop there on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, or Christmas, so make sure you get your holiday shopping done before Christmas Day.

Kohl’s can be a good option if you’re looking for something for yourself or need to grab gifts for others, but you won’t be able to do that on Thanksgiving day as the store will be shut down.

The good news is that the store is prepared to open early the next day for Black Friday sales.

Don’t put off any home repairs until right before your Thanksgiving guests arrive because Home Depot will be closed for last-minute tool and material runs.

You may or may not be able to pick up extra ingredients or last-minute platters at your local grocery store since many retailers will likely have abbreviated hours that day.

Some stores can even be closed completely, so it’s important to look up the info for your local market before you head out the door — for example, both Whole Foods and Kroger will have limited shopping hours that day in certain regions.

Depending on where you shop, you may or may not be able to quickly run out to grab some antacids if your Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t agree with you.

CVS, for example, will close 80% of its U.S. stores, and Walgreens may be hit-or-miss depending on where you’re going since the retailer will only keep its 24-hour locations open.

As you can see, you may be better off skipping the stores and spending more time with nearest and dearest on Thanksgiving by enjoying a good meal together or watching some football.

You may even want to use the opportunity to work on a budget for the upcoming holiday season so you can figure out how to lower your financial stress when it comes time to start shopping for everyone on your list.