15 Major Retailers That Are Closed on Thanksgiving

But you can order online anytime, and most stores open early for Black Friday

Shop window sign that lists Holiday Shopping hours

Alamy Stock Photo

John Waggoner

AARP

En español

Published November 23, 2021

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic — and because many Americans think retail workers should get Thanksgiving Day off — the tradition of heading off to the mall to shop for bargains after the big meal is fading away. Most major retailers are closed on Thanksgiving Day. For those who just can’t wait for pre-Black Friday shopping, retailers do keep their websites up and running 24/7.

Don’t be surprised by the crowds on Black Friday, Nov. 26, the day when retailers traditionally make enough money to put them in the black for the year. “I think that this year, consumers are going to be really interested in the stores for Black Friday and Thanksgiving weekend,” says Katherine Cullen, senior director of industry and consumer insights for the National Retail Federation (NRF). “People felt they missed out last year. They’re excited about seeing holiday decorations, heading out with family, keeping up some of those traditions.”

If you’re going to go out on Black Friday, it helps to go early, and retailers are glad to help by opening their doors early. And why not? The NRF forecasts that holiday sales during November and December will grow between 8.5 and 10.5 percent over 2020, to between $843.4 billion and $859 billion. Here’s a rundown of how some of the 15 largest brick-and-mortar retailers — excluding grocery stores — will handle Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

1. Apple Store

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: Regular business hours, usually 10:00 a.m.

Apple’s electronic wonderlands are generally packed even during non-holidays, but they’re closed on Thanksgiving. Expect big crowds on Black Friday.

2. B.J.’s Wholesale Club

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 7:00 a.m.

BJ’s members can dash for deals during November on BJs.com and in-club, the company says. Early bird deals started Nov. 4 and will continue through Nov. 29.

3. Best Buy

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 5:00 a.m., though that may be later at some stores because of mall hours and local regulations.

Best Buy employees will get to sleep in on Thanksgiving, but they will have to be up bright and early on Black Friday. The company says you can find all its best Black Friday deals online — even on Thanksgiving.

4. Costco Wholesale

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 9:00 a.m.

Costco, the members-only warehouse retailer, has already started its Black Friday sales. Most online purchases can be delivered.

5. Gap

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: Depends on mall hours

Gap employees can take a break on Thanksgiving, but doors will open early on Black Friday. Affiliated retailer Old Navy will welcome shoppers during normal hours on Friday.

6. The Home Depot

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 6:00 a.m.

If you’re thinking of getting Dad a chain saw (or a grill) for Christmas, you’re going to have to wait until Black Friday. But every day can be a Black Friday, since the chain has already started its Black Friday campaign online.

7. Kohl’s

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 5:00 a.m.

Kohl’s 1,100 stores will be shuttered on Turkey Day, but doors will open early on Black Friday. Like most other retailers, Kohl’s has started Black Friday early, both in stores and online.

8. Lowe’s

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: Regular business hours, usually 6:00 a.m.

Lowe’s has closed on Thanksgiving for many years, and this year will be no different. If you want to get an early start on Black Friday, the home improvement store has already started offering Black Friday deals.

9. Macy’s

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 6:00 a.m.

Presumably, Macy’s employees will be watching the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, but at any rate, they won’t be behind the counter. You can shop online ’til you drop on Thanksgiving or Black Friday.

10. Nordstrom

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 8:00 a.m. (varies by location)

11. PetSmart

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 7:00 a.m.

Admit it: Rover and Mittens get their own holiday gifts. You can’t shop for them on Thanksgiving, but PetSmart is open early on Black Friday for gifts for your animal companions.

12. Target

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 7:00 a.m.

Target announced it would be closed on Thanksgiving all the way back in January. Now it says it will never be open on Thanksgiving. The retailer released its deals for the weeks leading up to Black Friday on its website.

13. TJX Companies

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 7:00 a.m.

TJX is a retail conglomerate whose best-known store is probably T.J. Maxx. (It also runs Marshall’s, HomeGoods and Sierra, among others.) TJX, like Walmart, Target and Home Depot, says it has plenty of inventory for the holidays despite global supply chain issues.

14. Tractor Supply

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: 6:00 a.m.

The nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer gives its employees the day off on Thanksgiving, but opens its doors early for Black Friday.

15. Walmart

Open Thanksgiving? No

Doors open on Black Friday: Not announced

The nation’s largest retailer says it’s closing on Thanksgiving for the second year in a row. What time will its doors open on Black Friday? So far, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant is being coy. But it has already started offering Black Friday deals, so check its website.

John Waggoner covers all things financial for AARP, from budgeting and taxes to retirement planning and Social Security. Previously he was a reporter for Kiplinger's Personal Finance and  USA Today and has written books on investing and the 2008 financial crisis. Waggoner's  USA Today investing column ran in dozens of newspapers for 25 years.