Most major retail and grocery chains are closed on Christmas Day, but a handful of convenience, pharmacy, and select grocery stores do open with limited hours. Exact hours and participation always vary by location, so checking your local store’s website or calling ahead is essential.

Big picture

On Christmas Day, the default is “closed” for large supermarkets and big-box retailers, with only a few exceptions in specific regions. Convenience stores, some pharmacies, and certain regional grocers are usually your best bet if you need last‑minute essentials.

Commonly open stores

These chains are often open on Christmas Day, typically with reduced hours or at select locations.

  • Convenience stores and gas stations
    • 7‑Eleven
    • Circle K
    • Many gas station convenience shops (hours vary widely)
  • Pharmacies and drugstores
    • CVS (reduced hours; some 24‑hour locations stay open)
    • Walgreens (especially 24‑hour locations; hours vary by store)
  • Select grocery chains (location‑dependent)
    • Albertsons (some locations only)
    • Safeway (some locations only)
    • Vons (in certain regions)
    • In some areas, regional grocers like Giant may open on reduced hours (for example, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in select markets).

Always confirm locally, as not every branch within a chain follows the same holiday schedule.

Commonly closed stores

Most large retail and grocery chains fully close for Christmas Day.

  • Big‑box & warehouse clubs
    • Walmart
    • Target
    • Costco
    • Sam’s Club
    • BJ’s Wholesale
  • Grocery chains frequently closed
    • ALDI
    • Kroger
    • Publix
    • Trader Joe’s
    • Wegmans
    • Whole Foods
    • Harris Teeter
    • H‑E‑B
    • Hy‑Vee
    • ShopRite
    • Stop & Shop
    • Winn‑Dixie

Many dollar stores and specialty grocers also stay closed, including Dollar General, Dollar Tree/Family Dollar, and The Fresh Market.

Quick planning tips

  • Call ahead or use your store’s online locator to check today’s holiday hours before heading out.
  • If you need big grocery or retail runs, plan for Christmas Eve , when most chains are open but close early.
  • For true last‑minute emergencies (medication, snacks, basics), target convenience stores, 24‑hour pharmacies, and gas stations that often keep at least limited service on Christmas Day.

Meta description:
Wondering which stores are open on Christmas Day? Learn which pharmacies, convenience stores, and select grocers usually open (and which big chains close) so you can plan last‑minute trips wisely.

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