where can i get groceries on christmas day
You can usually get basic groceries on Christmas Day at certain convenience and drugstores, plus a few regional supermarkets, but almost all big grocery chains are closed.
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Looking for where you can get groceries on Christmas Day? Here’s a quick guide to which types of stores are typically open, which big chains are closed, and how to avoid getting stuck without essentials.
Key places likely open
Most full‑size supermarkets close on December 25, so focus on convenience and drugstores.
- 24/7 convenience stores like 7‑Eleven are commonly open on Christmas Day and can cover snacks, drinks, milk, bread, eggs, and some pantry items.
- Drugstores such as CVS and Walgreens often open with reduced hours, with many locations carrying frozen food, milk, cereal, canned goods, and basic household supplies.
- Some gas‑station chains (for example, Sheetz and similar 24/7 brands) typically stay open and offer limited groceries and ready‑to‑eat food.
Always check your specific location’s hours online or by phone, because Christmas schedules can vary by city and even by store.
Big grocery chains usually closed
Recent holiday hours roundups show that most major grocery chains shut down completely on Christmas Day.
- National names like Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger, Publix, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and many other supermarket brands have announced Christmas Day closures in recent years.
- Many of these chains reopen early on December 26, but they leave December 25 fully closed so employees can spend time with family.
Because of this, it is wise to do any big holiday shop by Christmas Eve and treat Christmas Day as “emergencies only” via smaller stores.
How to quickly find an open store near you
Without relying on a generic list, the fastest way to answer “where can I get groceries on Christmas Day” for your area is to check a few things directly.
- Search “[7‑Eleven near me]” or similar convenience chains and look for “Open 24 hours” or today’s hours in the map listing.
- Check nearby CVS or Walgreens in your maps app; many mark special holiday hours for December 25.
- Look up any local or regional supermarket brand (like Safeway or Albertsons) and read the store‑detail page; some locations stay open with limited hours while others fully close.
- Call ahead if anything looks unclear, since some stores adjust hours at the last minute due to staffing or weather.
If nothing nearby is open, delivery and pickup services through third‑party apps are usually paused or extremely limited on Christmas Day, so it is best not to rely on them for urgent groceries.
Mini “Quick Scoop” table
Here is a simple overview of what you can generally expect on Christmas Day in many parts of the US.
| Store type / chain | Typical Christmas Day status | What you can usually buy |
|---|---|---|
| 7‑Eleven & similar convenience stores | [1][3]Often open (many 24/7) | Snacks, drinks, milk, bread, eggs, some canned and frozen items |
| CVS, Walgreens (front of store) | [5][3][1]Open with reduced hours at many locations | Packaged food, frozen meals, beverages, basic household supplies |
| Gas‑station marts / travel plazas | [3]Often open (especially 24/7 brands) | Grab‑and‑go food, drinks, limited pantry staples |
| Safeway / Albertsons (select locations) | [5][1][3]Some stores open with shortened hours | Standard supermarket groceries, but often no full‑service departments late in the day |
| Walmart, Target, Costco, Kroger, Publix, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods | [9][7][5]Generally closed | Not available on Christmas Day |
Bottom line: for Christmas Day itself, think small and local—convenience stores, drugstores, and maybe a nearby regional supermarket with special hours—rather than counting on big grocery chains.
TL;DR: Most big grocery stores are closed on Christmas Day, so your best bet is nearby 24/7 convenience stores, open‑hours drugstores (CVS/Walgreens), some gas‑station markets, and a few Safeway/Albertsons‑type locations with special limited hours.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.