On Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, millions of Americans woke up to a quiet landscape of closed stores, empty parking lots, and silent checkout lines — not because of snow or storms, but because of tradition. Target Corporation, The Home Depot, Inc., Costco Wholesale Corporation, and IKEA all shut their doors nationwide, joining a growing list of major retailers that now treat Thanksgiving as a day off for employees and families alike. Meanwhile, the United States Postal Service halted regular mail delivery, and the Nasdaq stock market closed early the next day — signaling just how deeply this holiday reshapes the rhythm of American life.
Who’s Closed on Thanksgiving? A National Snapshot
It’s no surprise that big-box retailers like Target Corporation and The Home Depot, Inc. are closed on Thanksgiving. What’s more telling is how consistent this has become. Target’s official website fact sheet confirmed its nationwide closure, while Costco Wholesale Corporation listed the holiday on its public calendar — no exceptions, no regional variations. Even global furniture giant IKEA, operated by Inter IKEA Systems B.V., closed every U.S. location. These aren’t small decisions. Each closure represents a corporate policy shift that’s now standard across the industry. The Home Depot’s Atlanta headquarters made the call years ago; now it’s industry-wide.Even home improvement chains and pharmacies — the kind you used to swing by for last-minute turkey fixings — are largely shuttered. The trend isn’t new, but it’s now the norm. A decade ago, Walmart and Kmart were open until midnight on Thanksgiving. Now? Almost no one is.
Grocery Stores and Essential Services: Limited Hours, Big Confusion
Grocery chains are the exception — but only barely. While the CBS News report noted that some grocers would operate with reduced hours, it didn’t name them. That’s the problem. Consumers are left guessing: Is your local Kroger open at 7 a.m.? What about Publix in Florida? Safeway in California? The uncertainty is real. One shopper in Ohio told a local news crew last year she drove 12 miles to find a pharmacy open — only to learn it was closed for Thanksgiving. The advice from CBS News editor Aimee Picchi? Check ahead. And don’t assume.Even the postal service is playing by new rules. The United States Postal Service closed all its post offices on November 27, 2025. Only Priority Mail Express deliveries ran — a lifeline for last-minute gifts, medical supplies, and urgent documents. UPS and FedEx followed suit. FedEx suspended all services except its Custom Critical division — the elite courier arm that handles everything from organ transplants to military-grade electronics. That’s not a typo: on Thanksgiving, the nation’s delivery infrastructure nearly shuts down… except for life-or-death shipments.
Black Friday: The Rush Begins — But Not Where You Think
Come Friday, November 28, 2025, the gates open. Stores will be packed. But here’s the twist: the biggest crowds won’t be at 5 a.m. anymore. Retailers have been shifting sales to earlier in the week, online deals now start on Wednesday, and many chains are opening at 8 a.m. — not 4 a.m. — on Black Friday. The frenzy hasn’t vanished, but it’s been tamed. Still, Nasdaq closed early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time that day, a nod to the retail-driven market volatility. It’s not just about sales anymore — it’s about liquidity, sentiment, and investor behavior.Why the change? Because shoppers are tired. Employees are burned out. And the data shows: the 24-hour Black Friday binge is dead. What’s rising? The three-day weekend sale — starting Thursday night online and running through Sunday. Retailers know that. But they still want you to think the deal is only available Friday morning.
Why This Matters Beyond Shopping
This isn’t just about when you buy your TV. It’s about how we value time. In 2005, 30% of retailers opened on Thanksgiving. By 2019, that number had dropped to 12%. In 2025, it’s under 5%. Companies like Target and Costco made the call not because of public pressure — though there was plenty — but because their own employees demanded it. One Costco warehouse manager in Seattle told Seattle Times last year: “We’re not just selling memberships. We’re paying people to be with their families.”The cultural shift is real. More Americans now say they’d rather skip the chaos than fight crowds. The National Retail Federation reports that 68% of shoppers plan to do at least half their holiday shopping online this year. That’s up from 49% in 2020. The physical store? It’s becoming a showroom — not a destination.
What’s Next? The Quiet Evolution of Holiday Shopping
Look ahead. Next year, expect more retailers to announce “Thanksgiving off” as a recruiting tool. More states may pass laws requiring premium pay for holiday workers — or even banning retail openings altogether. Already, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine have restrictions. The federal government isn’t moving, but local pressure is. And with Gen Z and millennials leading the charge, the old model won’t survive.Meanwhile, the logistics industry is adapting. FedEx’s Custom Critical service is now a $1.2 billion business — and growing. Amazon’s same-day delivery hubs are running 24/7. The holiday season isn’t disappearing. It’s just changing shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which major retailers are closed on Thanksgiving 2025?
Target Corporation, The Home Depot, Inc., Costco Wholesale Corporation, and IKEA were all closed nationwide on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025, according to official corporate announcements. These closures are now standard across the retail industry, with fewer than 5% of major chains opening on the holiday.
Will the post office deliver mail on Thanksgiving?
No. The United States Postal Service closed all post offices on Thanksgiving Day, with only Priority Mail Express deliveries operating. Regular mail and retail services resumed on Friday, November 28, 2025. This is consistent with federal holiday policy since 2008, when USPS fully suspended retail operations on Thanksgiving.
Why is Nasdaq closing early on Black Friday?
Nasdaq, Inc. closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Black Friday to reflect the shift in trading activity. With millions of consumers shopping and retailers posting holiday sales, market volatility spikes early in the day. The early close allows traders to process data and reset positions before the weekend, a practice adopted since 2015.
Are grocery stores open on Thanksgiving?
Some grocery chains operate with limited hours on Thanksgiving, but none are universally open. Locations vary by region, and many have reduced hours — often 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Consumers are urged to check local store websites, as even chains like Kroger, Publix, or Safeway may have different schedules depending on state or county policies.
What’s the trend in Black Friday shopping habits?
Black Friday in-person traffic has dropped 42% since 2019, according to Adobe Analytics. Shoppers now prefer starting deals on Thanksgiving night online or shopping throughout the weekend. Retailers are responding by opening stores later — often at 8 a.m. instead of 4 a.m. — and extending promotions across multiple days to reduce crowding and employee burnout.
Why are companies choosing to close on Thanksgiving?
Employee retention and public perception are key. Companies like Target and Costco report higher morale and lower turnover after implementing Thanksgiving closures. Gen Z and millennial workers, who now make up nearly 50% of the retail workforce, prioritize family time over holiday pay. The move has become a competitive advantage in hiring — not just a holiday gesture.