Thanksgiving store hours/ Black Friday prep/ open stores Thanksgiving/ Thanksgiving travel forecast/ holiday closures 2024/ WASHINGTON/ / Newslooks/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Most major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Macy’s are closed on Thanksgiving to prepare for Black Friday, with doors reopening early Friday morning. Grocery stores are generally open with limited hours for last-minute needs, while government offices, banks, and the stock market remain closed. AAA projects nearly 80 million people traveling this holiday weekend, marking a record high.
Thanksgiving Store Closures 2024: What’s Open and What’s Not
Thanksgiving 2024: Open, Closed, and What to Expect
Retailers
- Walmart: Closed on Thanksgiving, opens at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday.
- Target: Closed on Thanksgiving, reopens at 6 a.m. Friday.
- Macy’s: Closed on Thanksgiving, extended Black Friday hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Kohl’s: Closed on Thanksgiving, some stores open as early as 5 a.m. Friday.
- Costco: Closed on Thanksgiving, check local hours for Friday.
- CVS: Closing early on Thanksgiving; hours vary by location.
- Walgreens: Most stores closed; check local hours for details.
Grocery Stores
Many grocery chains remain open on Thanksgiving for last-minute needs, though hours may be limited. Call your local store or check online for specific times.
Government Services and Banks
- Government Buildings: Closed, including post offices, courts, and schools.
- Banks and Stock Markets: Closed Thursday; markets reopen for a shortened trading day Friday, closing at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Package Delivery
- Standard FedEx and UPS services are unavailable on Thanksgiving, with limited critical services at select locations.
Travel Updates
- AAA Travel Forecast: A record 79.9 million Americans are expected to travel 50+ miles during the Thanksgiving period, an increase of 1.7 million from last year.
- Holiday Traffic Flow: For the first time, AAA includes Tuesday before and Monday after Thanksgiving in its projections to account for evolving travel trends.
Deep Look
Thanksgiving 2024 brings with it closures across most major services and an expected surge in travel as Americans enjoy the long holiday weekend.
Retailers Closed for Thanksgiving
This year, most major retailers continue the trend of closing on Thanksgiving Day to allow employees time with family and prepare for Black Friday.
- Walmart, Target, Macy’s, and Kohl’s: These major stores will remain closed on Thursday, reopening early Friday morning for the official start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday hours range from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m., with extended shopping opportunities throughout the day.
- Pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens will have limited or early closures on Thanksgiving; customers are encouraged to verify hours at their local stores.
- Costco: Closed Thursday, reopening Friday.
Grocery Stores Offer Last-Minute Relief
For those who need last-minute Thanksgiving items, many grocery stores will remain open with limited hours. Be sure to call ahead or check online to confirm availability.
Government, Financial Services, and Delivery
Government offices, banks, and U.S. stock markets are closed for Thanksgiving. Markets will reopen Friday for a half-day, closing at 1 p.m. Eastern. Standard package delivery services from FedEx and UPS are unavailable on Thursday, though some critical services will remain operational at specific locations.
Travel Records Expected
AAA projects nearly 80 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more during the Thanksgiving holiday, a record-breaking number. This includes 1.7 million more travelers than last year and surpasses pre-pandemic levels from 2019.
For the first time, AAA’s travel forecast accounts for extended holiday travel trends, including the Tuesday before and the Monday after Thanksgiving, as Americans adapt their plans for flexibility.
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