Retailers Adjust Thanksgiving Hours as Holiday Shopping Season Begins
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, major retailers are announcing their plans for store closures and Black Friday openings. Walmart and Target will both be closed on Thanksgiving Day but will open most locations at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. Macy’s will also remain closed on Thanksgiving, with extended Black Friday hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Kohl’s will be closed on Thanksgiving, but many stores are scheduled to open as early as 5 a.m. on Black Friday; customers are advised to check local store hours. Costco will be closed on Thanksgiving, reopening on Black Friday, with specific hours varying by location. CVS will close early on Thanksgiving, and customers can verify hours by contacting their local store or visiting the CVS Pharmacy website. Walgreens will close most stores on Thanksgiving, though some 24-hour locations will remain open; local store information is recommended.
Grocery Stores Remain Open for Last-Minute Needs
Most national grocery store chains will be open on Thanksgiving for last-minute purchases, though many will close early. Customers should check with their local stores for specific hours.
Record Thanksgiving Travel Expected
AAA projects that 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home during the Thanksgiving holiday period,spanning from Tuesday,Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1. This represents an increase of 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving and would establish a new record. The vast majority of travelers-approximately 73 million-are expected to travel by car, a 1.3 million increase from the previous year. Drivers are currently paying around $3 per gallon for regular gasoline, slightly higher than the national average of $3.06 on Thanksgiving Day last year. Domestic air travel is projected to reach 6 million passengers, a 2% increase over 2024, though this number could be affected by potential flight cancellations or delays.Travel via other modes-including bus, train, and cruise ships-is expected to rise by 8.5% to nearly 2.5 million people.
