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what stores are open on thanksgiving 2025

Many grocery, pharmacy, and convenience chains were open on Thanksgiving Day 2025, but almost all with limited or modified hours, and exact times varied by location. Big‑box and department stores like Walmart, Target, Costco, Best Buy, and many apparel retailers stayed fully closed and did not open until Black Friday.

Major grocery stores open

Most large supermarket chains opened for part of the day with holiday hours, mainly in the morning and early afternoon.

  • Kroger & Kroger-family stores (Ralphs, King Soopers, Fry’s, etc.) were open but closed early, often around mid‑ to late afternoon; hours varied by store so local checks were recommended.
  • Food Lion locations operated on Thanksgiving with reduced hours, generally mornings through mid‑afternoon.
  • Meijer stores were open with set holiday hours, roughly early morning to late afternoon or early evening.
  • Whole Foods Market opened with shortened hours, commonly around 7 a.m. to early afternoon, and pharmacies stayed closed.
  • Wegmans, Vons, ACME, Albertsons, Sprouts and similar regional chains were open but on modified or reduced schedules, with many closing mid‑afternoon.

For 2025, shoppers were consistently advised to double‑check their specific store’s website or call ahead because local managers could adjust opening and closing times.

Pharmacies and drugstores

Drugstores tended to remain available for essentials, though pharmacy counters often had tighter restrictions than the front of the store.

  • CVS : Most standalone stores were open with reduced hours; 24‑hour branches generally kept normal schedules, while many in‑store pharmacies operated shorter hours or closed.
  • Walgreens : Many regular locations closed for the holiday, but 24‑hour Walgreens stores typically stayed open, again with limited or adjusted pharmacy service.
  • Rite Aid and regional chains often followed a similar pattern of limited Thanksgiving hours and reduced pharmacy availability.

Customers needing prescriptions on Thanksgiving 2025 were encouraged to fill them early or verify pharmacy hours well in advance.

Convenience stores and gas stations

Convenience chains were among the most reliably open options on Thanksgiving 2025, often operating 24/7 as usual.

  • 7‑Eleven, Circle K, Wawa, Sheetz, QuikTrip, Kum & Go, Love’s Travel Stops and similar brands kept most locations open, many around the clock.
  • Other regional gas‑station convenience stores like Casey’s, Cumberland Farms, and Loaf ’N Jug also stayed open, though some had slightly modified hours.

These stores were highlighted as reliable stops for snacks, drinks, basic groceries, and fuel when larger retailers were closed.

Big‑box and department stores (mostly closed)

Thanksgiving 2025 continued the recent trend of closing large non‑essential retailers for the holiday.

  • Closed all day : Walmart, Target, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, IKEA, Kohl’s, Ulta, Sephora, and many department and apparel chains did not open on Thanksgiving at all.
  • Black Friday focus : These chains instead reopened early on Friday (often around 5–6 a.m.) for Black Friday promotions rather than running Thanksgiving Day doorbusters.

This shift was often framed as giving employees the day off while pushing major sales into Black Friday.

Quick planning tips for Thanksgiving 2025 (and similar years)

Because 2025 holiday operations emphasized shorter hours and staff time off, a few planning habits were widely recommended.

  • Shop main ingredients a few days before Thanksgiving and treat the holiday itself as a last‑minute backup window only.
  • If you must go out on Thanksgiving, prioritize grocery chains in the morning and convenience stores or 24‑hour pharmacies later in the day.
  • Always confirm hours through the store’s website, app, or a quick phone call because holiday schedules can change by location and even at the last minute.

TL;DR: On Thanksgiving 2025, many grocery stores (Kroger‑family, Food Lion, Meijer, Whole Foods, regional chains), most convenience stores, and several drugstores were open with reduced hours, while big‑box retailers like Walmart, Target, and Costco stayed closed until Black Friday.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.