Thanksgiving Day 2025 in the U.S. Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Target,  open

Why “What’s Open on Thanksgiving” Matters Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. is more than just a meal — it triggers a huge rush of people preparing food, last-minute shopping, household planning, and travel. Many retailers and grocery chains adjust their hours, or close entirely, to give employees the holiday off. For people who still need to get groceries, medicines, or basic supplies — sometimes at the last minute — knowing which stores are open is very helpful. In 2025 this issue is especially important because many large “big-box” retailers are closing on Thanksgiving, reflecting a trend over recent years where stores shut on the holiday rather than open — a shift from past decades when many would stay open to begin holiday sales early.   

Which Major Stores Are Closed on Thanksgiving 2025 Here are some of the big-name retailers that will not be open on Thanksgiving Day this year.  Walmart — The retailer has confirmed it will remain closed on Thanksgiving 2025.  Target — Also closed for Thanksgiving Day; reopened for Black Friday.  Costco — Closed on Thanksgiving.  Home-improvement and many big-box stores such as The Home Depot and Lowe's are closing on Thanksgiving 2025.  Other department-store chains and large non-grocery retailers (electronics, clothing, etc.) are also staying closed on Thanksgiving.  

The idea seems to be to give employees a holiday and to shift major sales to the next day, Black Friday.   

Grocery Stores & Chains Open on Thanksgiving Day 2025 (or With Modified Hours) Even though many big-boxes and superstores are closed, several grocery chains and food-driven stores remain open — often with reduced or shortened hours. These are likely your best bet if you need food, drinks, or last-minute Thanksgiving supplies.  Here are some chains likely to be open on Thanksgiving 2025: Kroger (and its family of supermarkets) — Stores will be open but will close early (many by mid-afternoon or around 4–5 p.m.).  Safeway — Expected to be open with typical grocery-store hours (but pharmacies inside may be closed or limited).  Food Lion — Many locations open, though hours vary; some may close mid-afternoon.  Whole Foods — Most stores open, often with shorter hours (e.g. many from ~7 a.m. to 1 p.m.).  Other food-centric or smaller/grocery-focused chains such as Albertsons, Sprouts Farmers Market, and similar stores — many are listed as open with reduced hours.  

In general, most grocery stores that remain open tend to close earlier than usual — often mid-afternoon — so morning or early-day shopping is the safest bet.   

What That Means for Specific Stores / Chains 

You Asked About Here’s a breakdown of the likely status — open or closed — for many of the stores you asked about. Since these are nationwide chains, details may vary locally — always double-check! Store / Chain Status on Thanksgiving 2025* Walmart Closed. 

Kroger Open — but with early closing / reduced hours (many by afternoon). 

Whole Foods Open — usually with limited hours (e.g. 7 a.m. to ~1 p.m.). 

Costco Closed. 

Target Closed. 

Home Depot / Lowe’s Closed. 

Food Lion Open — many stores with limited hours; likely close by early/mid afternoon. 

Safeway Open — but with modified hours (varies by location). 

Other chains (Albertsons, Sprouts, discount grocery-type stores) Many are open with reduced hours or modified operations.  

*Note: “Open” doesn’t always mean “full regular hours.” Many stores reduce hours, close pharmacies, or limit services on Thanksgiving.  

What This Means for Holiday Shoppers in 2025 Given the mix of closures and limited hours, here are some practical takeaways if you plan to shop this Thanksgiving: Plan ahead: If you know you need ingredients, essentials, or groceries, try to shop before Thanksgiving Day — ideally a day or two in advance. Many big-box stores and superstores will be closed, and grocery-store hours will be shortened. Go early: For grocery chains that stay open (like Kroger, Whole Foods, Safeway, Food Lion), early morning or late morning is best. 

Stores often close by early afternoon. 

Check locally: Because hours vary by location, always use a store’s website or phone to confirm. Don’t assume national hours apply to your local branch. Expect limited services: Pharmacies inside grocers may be closed. Certain departments (e.g., bakery, deli, pharmacy) may have reduced services or be shuttered for the holiday. Don’t rely on big-box retail: If you wanted to shop for non-grocery items (electronics, clothing, home improvement, etc.), most of those big-box retailers are shutting for Thanksgiving — you’ll likely need to wait until Black Friday or shop online.   Why Many Stores Are Closing on Thanksgiving Over recent years, many large chains have shifted to closing on Thanksgiving rather than staying open. There are several reasons for this move: 1. Employee well-being: Thanksgiving is a major holiday, traditionally for family and rest. Closing stores gives many workers the day off.  

2. Shift of sales to Black Friday & online: Retailers increasingly prefer focusing on Black Friday — when customers expect big sales — rather than trying to drive sales on Thanksgiving itself.  

3. Public expectation & goodwill: Over time, consumers have come to accept that many stores will close on Thanksgiving. It can be good publicity for a store to show it “respects the holiday.” 

4. Logistics / staffing concerns: Keeping large stores open involves staffing, utilities, security, supply — on a day when many staff may prefer to stay home. For some companies, that doesn’t make business sense if sales would be low.   

Key Takeaways — At a Glance 

If you need groceries or last-minute supplies this Thanksgiving, your best bet is a grocery-store chain rather than a big-box retailer. Many grocery chains stay open, but hours are often shorter than normal — sometimes closing by early or mid afternoon. Major retailers like Walmart, Target, Costco, Home-Depot-type stores are closed on Thanksgiving 2025. Always double-check your local store’s opening hours just before you go. Plan early. If possible, buy your groceries ahead of time to avoid holiday-day stress.   What About Stores Near “Me”? — And What To Do If You Are Outside the U.S. Because store-open/closed status can vary by city, state, and even store location, what holds for one place may not hold for another. If you’re in a rural area, outside a major city, or live outside the U.S., hours may differ — or stores might not follow the standard U.S. holiday schedule at all.