Most government and financial services close on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, while most retail, grocery, and restaurant businesses stay open, sometimes with holiday hours.

Key businesses that are closed

These are the main types of businesses that typically close for MLK Day in the United States.

  • Federal government offices (e.g., Social Security offices, federal agencies)
  • State and local government offices (city halls, county offices, many DMV locations)
  • U.S. Postal Service post offices and regular mail delivery (USPS)
  • Most banks and credit unions (following the Federal Reserve holiday schedule)
  • U.S. stock markets such as NYSE and Nasdaq
  • Many public schools and school districts
  • Many public libraries
  • Most courts and related court clerk offices

Businesses usually open

While the question focuses on what’s closed, it helps to know that most of everyday private-sector services remain open, often like a normal Monday.

  • Big-box and department stores (for example Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Best Buy)
  • Grocery stores and supermarkets (Kroger, Publix, Costco, Whole Foods, etc.)
  • Chain restaurants and fast food (McDonald’s, Starbucks, Applebee’s, etc.)
  • Pharmacies and drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid), though pharmacy counters may have reduced hours.
  • Many entertainment venues (movie theaters, malls, bowling alleys).

Quick planning tip: always check local listings, since some smaller or independently owned businesses and services may choose to close or run limited hours on MLK Day even if their industry is “usually open.”

TL;DR: Expect government, banks, post offices, schools, and many courts to be closed, but most shopping, groceries, restaurants, and pharmacies to be open, sometimes on holiday schedules.

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