Major Retailers Open on Thanksgiving
Many large U.S. retailers open on Thanksgiving, with some starting as early as 5:00 PM on the holiday and others remaining open overnight into Black Friday. Stores such as Walmart, Target, Macy’s, Best Buy, and Kohl’s typically operate on a shortened Thanksgiving schedule, while smaller independent shops often close. For current store hours, you can check the official Thanksgiving hours page at Forbes for updated listings.
Big-box chains and department stores usually publish their Thanksgiving hours weeks in advance, and many now open earlier on the holiday itself to capture early holiday traffic. Some retailers, including Amazon and certain grocery chains, keep online operations running continuously while physical locations follow a modified schedule. The National Retail Federation tracks these trends and publishes data on holiday openings at NRF.
Thanksgiving Store Hours and Shopping Trends
Typical Hours and Store Rankings
Walmart often opens at 5:00 PM on Thanksgiving and stays open through midnight, while Target and Best Buy frequently follow similar evening openings. Macy’s flagship stores in major cities may open earlier in the day, and Kohl’s commonly opens at 6:00 PM on the holiday. These hours are based on the most recent publicly available schedules from each company’s official website.
Consumer spending data shows that Thanksgiving evening has become a key shopping period, with in-store traffic peaking between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM. According to recent reports, online sales on Thanksgiving have grown steadily, with platforms like Amazon and Walmart.com handling a significant share of transactions. The U.S. Census Bureau provides retail sales data at census.gov.
Grocery Stores and Other Businesses Open on Thanksgiving
Grocery Chains and Essential Services
Many grocery stores, including Kroger, Albertsons, and Publix, operate on reduced Thanksgiving hours, often opening in the morning and closing by early evening. Some locations remain open 24 hours or extend hours to accommodate holiday meal preparation. Gas stations, convenience stores, and pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens also typically stay open on Thanksgiving.
Restaurants and food delivery services, including major chains and apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, often run special Thanksgiving menus and extended delivery windows. For official business hours and holiday schedules, you can refer to the U.S. Small Business Administration at sba.gov for guidance on small business operations during federal holidays.