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Walmart, which ranks as the largest grocer in the U.S., will be closed on Thanksgiving for the fourth consecutive year to give store associates a break, but most traditional grocers are expected to again remain open with limited hours.
Walmart joined several other major chains opting to close on Thanksgiving in 2020 amid social-distancing concerns and to show appreciation to associates facing challenges during the pandemic. Traditionally, many stores were open for limited evening hours on Thanksgiving, with deals arriving to help jumpstart Black Friday sales.
Most Walmart stores are open 24 hours a day. In 2019, in-store Black Friday deals at Walmart started at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
“Thanksgiving is such a special day during a very busy season. We want you to spend that day at home with family and loved ones,” said Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner last week in a video message to associates on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Several other chains known for offering Thanksgiving evening Black Friday deals — including Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, and JCPenney — remained closed on Thanksgiving for the third straight year in 2022 but haven’t announced plans for 2023. Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and TJX Companies are among the chains that have historically chosen to close on Thanksgiving.
Among chains offering groceries as well as toys and other gifts, Target announced in 2021 that it would be closing permanently on Thanksgiving. Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club have historically been closed on Thanksgiving as a thank-you to their workers.
"Our employees work especially hard during the holiday season and we simply believe that they deserve the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with their families," Costco said in a statement to the Washington Post.
As for grocers, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Lidl have traditionally been closed on Thanksgiving. Winn-Dixie began closing on Thanksgiving in 2020 and Giant Eagle in 2021.
Most traditional supermarkets, however, are open with reduced hours to help home cooks take care of last-minute needs for their big meals, with some offering catering. Among some larger chains, H-E-B closes at noon on Thanksgiving; Harris Teeter at 2 p.m.; Albertsons, Stop & Shop, Piggly Wiggly, and Meijer at 3 p.m.; and Wegmans and Kroger at 4 p.m. Most Whole Foods locations close at 3 or 4 p.m.