Stores That Are Closing for Thanksgiving This Year — And Which Will Stay Open
- - Stores That Are Closing for Thanksgiving This Year — And Which Will Stay Open
Saundra Latham November 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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Sorry we're closed sign behind dirty glass door during corona lockdown
Critics have long blasted retailers for opening on Thanksgiving, saying employees should enjoy the holiday with family instead of bracing for hordes of bargain-hungry shoppers. In recent years, largely thanks to the pandemic, they got their wish — and this year is mostly following suit.
Though a couple of chains will buck the trend, the vast majority of retailers will shut their doors. Read on for a list of which stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, along with the stores that will be open.
Target
Target by Mike Mozart ((CC BY))
Target will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. In fact, the retailer announced in 2020 that, going forward, it will always be closed on Thanksgiving.
It’s a major shift for the big-box chain, which had stayed open on the holiday for about a decade before the pandemic in an effort to accommodate deal-hungry shoppers. But shoppers’ increasing embrace of e-commerce means Target has little to lose from making the change permanent.
“What started as a temporary measure driven by the pandemic is now our new standard — one that recognizes our ability to deliver on our guests’ holiday wishes both within and well beyond store hours,” Target CEO Brian Cornell says.
JCPenney
TennesseePhotographer/istockphoto
JCPenney will be closed on Thanksgiving but has already started offering Black Friday deals. Find discounts on small appliances, cookware, luggage, and more.
Macy’s
wdstock/istockphoto
Macy’s will be closed on Thanksgiving again this year, freeing you up to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade. The stores will open for Black Friday at 6 a.m.
Ken Wolter/shutterstock
Not only will REI be closed on Thanksgiving, it will also be closed on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year. The company has been shut down on this day since 2015 — including stores, distribution centers, call centers, and headquarters — and pay its employees to spend time outside as part of its #OptOutside campaign.
BJ’s Wholesale Club
Helen89/shutterstock
Joining ranks with the other wholesale clubs, BJ’s is closing on Thanksgiving Day again. It’s not an unusual move for the company, which has been closed on turkey day for the last 16 years in order to give employees a break during the busy season.
Simon Properties
Simon Property Group
Simon, the nation’s largest mall owner, operates malls, lifestyle centers, and outlet malls in 37 states plus Puerto Rico, and the vast majority will be closed on Thanksgiving. Among Simon’s more notable locations: Lenox Square in Atlanta; The Domain in Austin, Texas; and Woodbury Common Premium Outlets near New York City.
Bed, Bath & Beyond
krblokhin/istockphoto
In past years, the retailer had flip-flopped when it comes to Thanksgiving, choosing to close in 2018, open in 2019, and close in 2020 and 2021. This year, the company will remain closed.
Kohl’s
Sakkawokkie/istockphoto
Kohl’s, typically a reliable source of Thanksgiving Day doorbusters, was closed last year and is doing the same thing this year. On Black Friday, Kohl’s will open at 5 a.m. The store did point out shoppers can visit Kohls.com anytime, including Thanksgiving.
Walmart and Sam’s Club
Wolterk/istockphoto
That mad holiday dash to Walmart for a cheap 4K TV will have to wait. The mega-chain’s more than 5,000 stores will again be closed on Thanksgiving this year. Like previous years, the retailer will spread its deals throughout the month of November, both in store and online. Walmart-owned Sam’s Club will also be closed, as it has been in years past.
Costco
Costco by Mike Mozart ((CC BY))
Costco’s U.S. locations will be closed on Thanksgiving, a policy that remains unchanged from years past. But be sure to check Costco.com that day for special online-only deals, and look for the warehouse club to offer holiday savings online and in-store throughout November. Not a Costco member? You can apply here.
Best Buy
Sean Pavone/shutterstock
The nation’s most prominent electronics retailer, traditionally fertile ground for stampedes over laptops and smartphones, will again not be open on Thanksgiving this year. It has already been offering Black Friday prices on and off.
Staples
Tupungato/shutterstock
Staples stores will stay closed on Thanksgiving again this year. Black Friday deals, in store and online, have already been announced.
Trader Joe’s
RiverNorthPhotography/istockphoto
Trader Joe’s has a long-standing tradition of closing on Thanksgiving. Since founder Joe Coulombe’s retirement in 1988, the store began shutting its doors on the holiday to allow employees to spend time with friends and family. Check your local branch to see when the grocery store will be open in the days pre- and post-Thanksgiving.
These Stores Are Staying Open
NoDerog/istockphoto
Not everything is closed on Thanksgiving. Here are some of the retailers and grocery stores that are keeping their doors open at all or most locations. Just be sure to check your local store for hours.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s
Big Lots
Dollar General
Family Dollar
Kroger
Meijer
Ralphs
Rite Aid
Safeway
Sears
Vons
Walgreens
Whole Foods Market
More On Cheapism
Joanne S. / Yelp -
Marshalls, Home Goods Opening New Stores Nationwide Soon — Bargain-hunters take note: major off-price retailers are rolling out dozens of new locations just in time for the holiday season.
Ross Stores Opening 40 New Locations Nationwide — Amid retail downsizing elsewhere, one discount chain is charging ahead with store openings across 17 states as it expands its footprint.
TJ Maxx Opening New Stores in 5 States by Mid-November — Even in a tricky economy, this off-price favorite is launching several new locations ahead of the holidays to capitalize on bargain demand.
Source: “AOL Money”
