Most big retail stores stay open on MLK Day, while many financial and government-related services close for the federal holiday. The main closures are banks, post offices, and the stock market, not typical shopping stores.

Major places that are closed

  • Banks and credit unions
    • Most major banks (Bank of America, Chase, Citi, PNC, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, etc.) close their branches on Martin Luther King Jr. Day because it is a federal banking holiday.
* ATMs and online banking still work, but there is no in-branch service.
  • U.S. Postal Service and mail
    • USPS post offices close and do not deliver regular mail on MLK Day.
* Many UPS pickup and delivery services pause that day, and some UPS Store locations may also close or run limited hours.
  • Stock market and some government offices
    • The New York Stock Exchange and most U.S. financial markets close for trading on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
* Federal, state, and many city offices (DMV, courts, city halls, some libraries) often close or run limited hours, though this varies by location.

Stores that are usually open

  • Grocery stores and big-box retailers
    • Most major supermarket and department store chains stay open on normal or near-normal hours, including places like Costco, Target, Trader Joe’s, Safeway, ALDI, Publix, and similar chains.
* Many malls and shopping centers treat it as a regular or even busy shopping day, sometimes with sales.
  • Drugstores and many restaurants
    • Chains such as CVS and Walgreens typically remain open, though some in-store or smaller pharmacies can reduce hours.
* Most restaurants and fast-food spots are open, but hours can vary by franchise.

What to do before you go

  • Check the specific store or branch hours on its website or app, especially for:
    • Local banks and credit unions
    • UPS/FedEx locations and smaller shipping stores
    • Independent pharmacies or small retailers
  • Remember that MLK Day is a federal holiday, so anything tied to the federal government or financial markets is more likely to be closed than everyday shopping stores.

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