Most essentials are still available on Christmas, but big-box retail and many grocery chains close or run very limited hours, so it is safest to rely on convenience stores, some pharmacies, and selected restaurants.

Key things usually open

  • Convenience stores and gas stations
    • Many 7-Eleven, Wawa, Sheetz, and similar chains stay open 24/7, including Christmas, though a few locations may adjust hours.
* Gas stations with attached mini-marts often operate on normal or slightly reduced schedules.
  • Pharmacies and drugstores
    • Large chains like CVS and Walgreens typically open many locations on Christmas, often with shorter pharmacy counters and reduced front-store hours.
* Other pharmacy chains may be closed entirely, so checking a specific location’s hours online is important.
  • Some grocery options
    • Major supermarkets (Kroger, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Wegmans, and similar) are usually closed all day.
* A limited number of Albertsons, Safeway, and regional markets offer reduced hours for last‑minute essentials.

Restaurants and coffee shops

  • Fast food and diners
    • Many McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Subway, and similar chains leave the decision to franchise owners, so some are open with shortened hours while others close.
* Sit‑down chains such as Denny’s, Waffle House, IHOP, and some casual-dining brands tend to have at least some locations open.
  • Coffee and quick snacks
    • Numerous Starbucks and Dunkin’ stores open on Christmas, but often with morning‑only or reduced schedules.
* Hotel cafĂŠs and restaurants, plus many Chinese and other independently owned restaurants, are traditionally open and can be reliable options.

What is usually closed

  • Big-box and many chains
    • Large retailers and discount stores commonly shut down entirely to give employees the day off.
    • Several dollar-store and pharmacy brands, as well as most full-size groceries, post “closed Christmas Day” across all locations.
  • Some fast-food brands
    • Certain chains, like Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell, typically close system‑wide on Christmas.

How to quickly check locally

  1. Search “[store/restaurant name] hours Christmas Day” and use the official site or map listing to confirm same‑day hours.
  2. Call the specific location, especially if you need pharmacy services or a sit‑down meal, since franchise decisions vary widely.
  1. If everything nearby looks closed, check gas‑station plazas, highway rest stops, and hotels, which are the most likely to have food and convenience items available.

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Wondering what is open on Christmas? From convenience stores and pharmacies to select fast-food chains and diners, here’s a quick guide to where you can still shop and eat on Christmas Day.

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