Thanksgiving and the day after — Black Friday — mark two of the most significant dates in the American retail calendar. In 2025, millions of holiday shoppers across the United States sought clarity on where they could shop and dine on Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28. With traditional Thanksgiving observances still widespread, many large retailers chose to remain closed on the holiday itself, while others maintained limited hours to accommodate last-minute needs. On Black Friday, however, many reopened early with extended hours and special deals, continuing a long-standing trend toward early holiday shopping.

Thanksgiving 2025: Holiday Closures and Openings

Thanksgiving Day in 2025 fell on Thursday, November 27, the fourth Thursday of November. It is a federal holiday in the United States, during which many government offices, courts, schools, and financial markets are closed. Many major retailers followed suit by closing or significantly restricting operations on this holiday.

Among the most notable closures were major big-box and department stores such as Walmart, Target, Costco, Macy’s, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. These chains opted to close their doors on Thanksgiving Day, allowing employees to spend the holiday with friends and family rather than opening early for holiday shopping. Other well-known brands including Best Buy, JCPenney, Nordstrom, and many apparel retailers also remained closed for the day, reinforcing the broader trend of Thanksgiving closures in 2025.

Smaller stores and convenience chains offered some alternatives for essential shopping. Discount retailers such as Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Big Lots remained open, often with reduced or adjusted hours to serve last-minute needs. Grocery chains including Albertsons, Kroger, H-E-B, Sprouts Farmers Market, and Whole Foods operated on limited schedules, typically opening in the morning and closing by early or mid-afternoon. Pharmacies like CVS and select 24-hour Walgreens locations also maintained some availability, though hours varied by location.

Stores Closed on Thanksgiving 2025

Several major retailers confirmed they would not open on Thanksgiving Day 2025. This reinforced a shift in corporate policies since the early 2020s, when many of these stores previously opened for extended hours or even midnight sales to kick off holiday shopping. In 2025, closures included:

Walmart — Remained closed on Thanksgiving, reopening early Friday with Black Friday hours.
Target — Continued its public commitment to remain closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Costco — Closed on Thanksgiving, reopening on Black Friday with regular opening times.
Best Buy — Did not open on Thanksgiving and resumed sales with early Black Friday hours.
Macy’s, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other large chains — Also closed on Thanksgiving, reopening early Friday for Black Friday deals.
Dept. and apparel stores like Kohl’s, Nordstrom, JCPenney, and Dick’s Sporting Goods followed similar closure patterns.

These closures reflected ongoing consumer and employee sentiment that prioritizes time with families over early holiday shopping. Some employers explicitly cited employee well-being and work-life balance when announcing Thanksgiving closures for 2025.

Stores Open on Thanksgiving Day 2025

Despite widespread closures, several retailers remained open to meet the needs of holiday travelers, last-minute shoppers, and those looking to purchase essentials before the feast. Many of these were grocery, convenience, or discount stores. Key open retailers included:

Grocery Chains — Stores like Kroger and its subsidiaries, Albertsons, Sprouts Farmers Market, H-E-B, and Whole Foods operated with reduced hours, often closing by mid-afternoon.
Discount and Convenience Stores — Dollar General and Family Dollar were open for extended hours, catering to those seeking snacks, household items, and basic groceries.
Drugstores — CVS pharmacies and select Walgreens outlets remained open in many areas, though pharmacy counters sometimes closed early.
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s — Some outdoor and specialty stores opened with limited hours on Thanksgiving.
24/7 Convenience Chains — Chains like 7-Eleven and Wawa maintained their regular operations throughout the holiday.

Shoppers were broadly advised to verify local hours due to regional differences and occasional early closures for certain services within stores (for example, pharmacy departments often had separate schedules from the main retail floor).

Black Friday 2025: Early Morning Openings and Sales

Black Friday, the Friday following Thanksgiving, marked the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season. In 2025, most major retailers that were closed on Thanksgiving reopened early on Friday morning, offering doorbuster deals and extended hours to draw customers.

Many chains began Black Friday sales at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m., with some opening even earlier. These openings reflected a traditional pattern in which retailers use early Black Friday hours to kick-off competitive pricing and large discounts across a range of product categories.

Prominent Black Friday opening times in 2025 included:

Major department and big-box stores — JCPenney and Kohl’s opened at roughly 5:00 a.m., while Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Dick’s Sporting Goods opened around 6:00 a.m.
Warehouse clubs — Sam’s Club and Costco opened at their regular business times, with some extended Black Friday deals available online.
Other retailers — Ulta Beauty, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and other specialty and discount stores began sales early in the morning and continued well into the day.

Online sales and digital promotions often accompanied in-store deals, providing alternatives for shoppers who preferred to avoid crowds or who shopped from home.

Travel and Consumer Behavior Around Thanksgiving 2025

The Thanksgiving and Black Friday weekend is consistently one of the busiest travel periods of the year in the United States. In 2025, travel surges contributed to busy retail environments as shoppers combined holiday trips with early holiday purchases. Increased roadway congestion, busy airports, and high airline demand were reported as part of standard Thanksgiving travel patterns.

Consumer behavior also reflected a continuing trend toward balancing holiday traditions with shopping — some families used Thanksgiving Day for travel and feasting first, while planning Black Friday shopping for early Friday morning. Retailers responded by offering online deals in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, extending “Black Friday Week” promotions to capture early purchasing interest.

What Shoppers Should Know Before Heading Out

Before planning holiday outings around store hours, experts recommended verifying local store details. Individual branches often determine exact hours, especially for grocery stores and pharmacies. Additionally, some stores might close specific in-store departments (like pharmacy counters) earlier than the main retail area. Holiday hours are commonly posted on retailer websites and apps, along with local signage.

For those unable to shop in person, many retailers continued to offer robust online deals with free shipping options or curbside pickup, allowing customers to secure items without physically visiting stores on or immediately after Thanksgiving.

Major Chains and Their 2025 Thanksgiving Policies

The 2025 holiday season saw a clear split among retailers between those prioritizing holiday closures and those remaining open for convenience shopping. Some chains used online systems to communicate hours in advance, while others updated local store listings nearer to Thanksgiving and Black Friday. The overall landscape reflected an evolving approach to holiday retail operations, balancing traditional shopping demand with growing concerns about employee well-being and customer experience.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving and Black Friday 2025 demonstrated a continued shift in retail strategy, with many major retailers electing to close on Thanksgiving Day while reopening early and energetically for Black Friday. Shoppers benefited from a mix of limited Thanksgiving offerings at grocery and convenience stores alongside widely anticipated Black Friday deals across major retail categories. As consumer behavior evolves and holiday shopping trends continue to adapt, understanding store hours and closures remains essential for planning successful holiday shopping and travel.