Most big chains close on Christmas Day, but a handful of convenience, drugstore, and select grocery locations usually stay open with limited hours. Exact hours vary by location, so checking your local storeā€™s listing is essential.

Major stores usually closed

Most large retailers and many grocery chains fully close for Christmas Day, treating it as a guaranteed day off for staff. This includes many of the places people often assume might be open.

Commonly closed on Christmas Day in 2025 include:

  • Walmart, Target, Costco, Samā€™s Club
  • Kroger, Publix, Aldi, Trader Joeā€™s, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Wegmans, Stop & Shop
  • Home Depot, Loweā€™s, IKEA, Macyā€™s and many other big-box or department stores

Stores that tend to be open

A smaller set of chains plan to keep doors open on Christmas, often with reduced hours or only at select locations. These are typically where you go for lastā€‘minute essentials rather than full shopping trips.

Frequently listed as open (or partly open) on Christmas Day 2025 are:

  • 7ā€‘Eleven and similar convenience stores (many 24/7, but some vary)
  • Sheetz and other 24/7 gas stationā€“convenience chains
  • Walgreens (most locations open, pharmacy hours may differ)
  • CVS (many locations open with modified hours; some may close)
  • Some Safeway/Albertsons and a few regional grocers, with shortened daytime hours

Quick reference table

[5] [5] [5] [7][1][5] [7][5] [1][7][5] [1][7][5] [7][1][5] [5][7]
Chain Christmas Day 2025 status Notes
Walmart Closed Reopens early Dec. 26
Target Closed Reopens morning of Dec. 26
Costco Closed All U.S. warehouses closed
7ā€‘Eleven Generally open Many 24/7, but local hours can vary
Sheetz Open Listed as operating on regular 24/7 schedule
Walgreens Open Most stores open; pharmacy hours may differ by location
CVS Mostly open Many locations open with reduced hours; some may close
Safeway / Albertsons Mixed (some open) Selected stores open with shorter hours; many others closed
Major grocers (Kroger, Publix, Aldi, etc.) Closed Most big grocery chains fully closed

How to check your exact local store

Because chains give local managers flexibility, ā€œopen on Christmasā€ almost always comes with exceptions. To avoid a wasted trip:

  • Search the specific store name plus your city, and open the locationā€™s hours page.
  • Use the chainā€™s official app or store locator, which usually flags holiday hours.
  • When in doubt, call the store directly on Christmas Eve to confirm.

Current-year context and expectations

For Christmas 2025, the pattern continues a broader trend of big-box and grocery chains choosing to close, while 24/7 convenience and fuel locations stay open for travel and emergencies. Expect any open nonā€‘24/7 store (like some pharmacies or grocers) to run on reduced hours, often lateā€‘morning to lateā€‘afternoon only.

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