Thanksgiving 2025 Grocery Store Hours Today: What’s Open on November 27

Published: November 27, 2025

If you woke up this morning, checked the turkey, and suddenly realized you forgot cranberries, broth, or foil, you’re definitely not alone. But pulling off a last‑minute save on Thanksgiving Day 2025 is trickier than it used to be: more big retailers are closing completely, while only a patchwork of grocery chains and neighborhood markets are open for limited hours. ^[1]

At the same time, the cost of a classic Thanksgiving feast is under unusual pressure. Overall “food at home” prices are about 2.7% higher than last year, but Wells Fargo’s Agrifood Institute and the American Farm Bureau Federation both say the cost of a traditional turkey dinner has actually dipped a bit for 2025, thanks to supermarket deals and lower turkey prices. ^[2]

Here’s a rundown of who’s open today (Thursday, November 27, 2025), how late you can shop, and the easy‑to‑forget groceries that send people racing back to the store every year.

Big picture: Fewer stores open, shorter hours

Nationally, the trend is clear: Thanksgiving is now mostly a “closed” day for big chains, with Black Friday as the main retail event.

Axios reports that most of the country’s largest retailers — including Walmart, Target, Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Lidl, and many others — are closed all day today. ^[3]
CBS News and WRAL list only a handful of major grocery chains keeping limited hours, while confirming that big-box names like Walmart, Target, Sam’s Club, Publix and many malls are shut. ^[4]
Hindustan Times and AP echo the same pattern: widespread closures today, with retailers focusing instead on early Black Friday and Cyber Week promotions. ^[5]

Translation for shoppers: If you need something today, you’ll mostly be relying on:

Regional grocery chains running reduced holiday hours
Select national supermarket chains that close by early or mid‑afternoon
Drugstores and dollar stores, some with shortened hours
Independent and neighborhood markets that set their own schedules

Major grocery chains open on Thanksgiving 2025 (and their typical hours)

Hours vary by location, but multiple national round‑ups from CBS, Axios, Hindustan Times and WRAL paint a consistent picture for today: arrive early, and assume most big groceries will be closing between noon and 5 p.m. local time. ^[6]

Here are some of the key chains open today, with general hours based on those reports (always double‑check your local store’s website or app before you go):

National & regional grocery chains

Kroger family of stores (Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer and others)
Coverage from CBS, Axios and Hindustan Times shows Kroger‑owned chains open this morning but closing early — in some regions around midday, in others mid‑ to late afternoon (often between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m.). ^[7]
Food Lion
Generally open 7 a.m. until mid‑afternoon, with many stores closing around 3 p.m., and some locations (for example, parts of Virginia) staying open slightly later. ^[8]
H‑E‑B
Texas‑based H‑E‑B stores are open early but wrap up by lunchtime, with most locations running 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. ^[9]
Wegmans
Most Wegmans locations are open into the afternoon, typically closing around 4 p.m., then reopening early Friday morning. ^[10]
Whole Foods Market
Multiple outlets report Whole Foods operating 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in most states, while stores in Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island are closed altogether due to local laws. ^[11]
Meijer
Meijer is one of the later‑closing chains today, typically running 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. ^[12]
The Fresh Market
Often open 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., giving shoppers a decent late‑morning window. ^[13]
Sprouts Farmers Market
Holiday hours are generally 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. ^[14]
Acme, Albertsons, Safeway, Giant Food, Ingles, Jewel‑Osco, Smart & Final and other chains
Axios’ national list shows these operating on reduced schedules — most opening early and closing somewhere between early afternoon and 5 p.m. local time. ^[15]

Meanwhile, many big grocery names are fully closed today, including Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Hy‑Vee, Sam’s Club, Costco and numerous warehouse clubs and specialty grocers. ^[16]

Local spotlights: Pittsburgh, Northeast Ohio, Boston & the Triangle

National lists are helpful, but Thanksgiving really comes down to what’s happening near you. Several local outlets have published detailed rundowns for today.

Pittsburgh: Giant Eagle & Market District

In the Pittsburgh region, Giant Eagle and Market District are a key lifeline for last‑minute shoppers:

All Giant Eagle and Market District stores are open until 3 p.m. today.
The Market District Express in McMurray also operates until 3 p.m.
Giant Eagle Express in Harmar follows its normal hours.
All Giant Eagle pharmacies are closed for Thanksgiving. ^[17]

WTAE also notes that, despite “food at home” prices rising this year, the overall cost of a Thanksgiving menu is estimated to be 2–3% lower than last year, thanks to promotional pricing on staples like stuffing and gravy. ^[18]

Northeast Ohio: Whole Foods, Meijer, Giant Eagle and more

News 5 Cleveland highlights a cluster of stores around Cleveland and Akron that are open with limited hours: ^[19]

Whole Foods: roughly 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dave’s Market & Lucky’s Supermarket: operating on holiday schedules, staying open until about 3 p.m.
Giant Eagle and Market District: closing at 3 p.m.
Meijer: open 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., with curbside pickup usually ending earlier in the afternoon
Discount Drug Mart: open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Walgreens: most locations are closed, but 24‑hour stores stay open for emergencies

Their consumer team also reminds shoppers to treat hours as location‑specific and verify via store apps or by phone before driving over. ^[20]

Boston area: Neighborhood markets fill the gap

In Greater Boston, major chains like Trader Joe’s, Stop & Shop and Whole Foods may be closed, but a wide range of smaller groceries and international markets are open. Boston.com compiled a map that includes: ^[21]

Convenience and neighborhood stores open from early morning until late evening
H Mart locations in Cambridge, Brookline, Burlington, Quincy and Somerville, many running into the evening
Local markets such as Golden Goose Market, City Feed & Supply, and other independents with hours stretching anywhere from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

One important regional twist: Massachusetts Blue Laws prohibit alcohol sales on Thanksgiving, so you’ll need to have beer, wine, and spirits purchased ahead of today. ^[22]

Raleigh–Durham & the Triangle: Early closings across the board

WRAL’s SmartShopper team pulled together a detailed list of Triangle‑area Thanksgiving hours that also reflects wider national patterns: ^[23]

Open with restricted hours: Food Lion (often until ~3 p.m.), Harris Teeter (until ~2 p.m.), Lowes Foods (often until ~4 p.m.), Sprouts, The Fresh Market, and others
Fully closed: major discounters like Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, Trader Joe’s, Publix and more
Drugstores: CVS generally open with reduced hours, while most Walgreens stores are closed except for 24‑hour locations

WRAL notes that many groceries in the region shut their doors today between 2 and 4 p.m., so late‑afternoon runs are risky. ^[24]

The last‑minute dilemma: Restaurant reservations are spiking

For some families, the combination of higher grocery prices, limited store hours, and cooking stress is pushing them out of the kitchen entirely.

Data shared with CNN and reported by WMUR show that Thanksgiving restaurant reservations are up about 13% year‑over‑year, based on OpenTable bookings. ^[25]

Even though eating out is still generally more expensive than cooking at home, the article notes:

Restaurant prices are rising faster than overall inflation and faster than grocery prices.
Yet, the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal at home for 10 people has fallen about 5% this year, to roughly $5.52 per person, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. ^[26]
Major chains like Aldi, Amazon, Target and Walmart have promoted discounted Thanksgiving “meal deals” to entice cost‑conscious shoppers earlier in the season. ^[27]

So if you’re still planning to cook today, the math can still favor a home‑cooked meal — if you can grab those last missing items before stores close.

The one grocery everyone forgets (and other easy‑to‑miss items)

A widely shared piece from cooking site The Kitchn this week zeroed in on “the one grocery everyone forgets to buy until it’s too late” — a simple canned pantry staple that has sent many cooks racing back to the store on Thanksgiving Day. The article’s core message: picking up that canned essential early can save you an extra trip today. ^[28]

Even if you’re not sure which ingredient you’re most likely to forget, here are some commonly overlooked items that frequently derail Thanksgiving cooking:

Canned & pantry staples

Broth or stock (chicken, turkey, or vegetable) for stuffing, gravy and reheating leftovers
Canned cranberry sauce or whole berries
Canned pumpkin or sweet potato purée for pies
Evaporated or condensed milk for desserts and casseroles
Extra flour, sugar and baking powder for last‑minute baking

Fridge items

Extra butter (for everything)
Eggs and heavy cream
Fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, thyme)
Breakfast items for tomorrow morning (bagels, eggs, bacon, coffee creamer)

“Logistics” supplies

Aluminum foil, parchment paper and plastic wrap
Trash bags and paper towels
Ice for drinks
Disposable storage containers or zip‑top bags for leftovers
Batteries for thermometers, candles and remote controls

Before you head out, doing a 10‑minute pantry and fridge sweep for these categories can dramatically reduce the odds of needing another emergency store run later in the day.

Pro tips for last‑minute Thanksgiving shopping (without overspending)

Consumer reporters in Cleveland and Raleigh have shared a handful of smart, very practical tactics for today’s shoppers. ^[29]

1. Check hours before you drive

Holiday schedules can differ store‑to‑store, even within the same chain. Use:

Store websites and apps
Google Maps listings (look for “Holiday hours”)
A quick phone call to your specific branch

This is especially critical in states like Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where blue laws and local ordinances lead to additional closures or shorter hours. ^[30]

2. Make a “backup list” instead of grabbing just one thing

When you rush out for cranberries or broth, it’s easy to forget that you’re also almost out of:

Milk or cream
Coffee or tea
Dish soap or sponges
Breakfast food for tomorrow

Several consumer writers recommend making a short, second checklist of everything you’re low on, so one quick run covers everything instead of turning into three separate trips. ^[31]

3. Watch for holiday markups

Some stores raise prices slightly on convenience items and prepared foods today. Reporters advise:

Comparing unit prices on canned, boxed and frozen staples
Being cautious with pre‑cut vegetables and pre‑made sides, which can cost significantly more per serving
Looking for store‑brand alternatives, which are often featured in seasonal meal deals ^[32]

4. Shop your freezer and pantry first

Multiple local pieces stress that many households already have:

Frozen vegetables, rolls and stock
Extra butter or pie crusts
Backup dessert ingredients

Checking your freezer and pantry before you drive out can save both money and precious shopping time when stores are crowded and closing early. ^[33]

The bottom line: You still have options — but not all day

Compared with a decade ago, Thanksgiving Day shopping has shrunk into a tight morning‑to‑early‑afternoon window:

Most big‑box retailers (Walmart, Target, Costco, Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Publix and more) are closed entirely today. ^[34]
Many major grocery chains are open but closing between noon and 5 p.m., depending on the banner and region. ^[35]
Regional grocers like Giant Eagle, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Meijer and others are providing crucial last‑minute coverage but still shutting in the mid‑afternoon in most markets. ^[36]

If you’re missing something, treat late morning as your realistic deadline:

Do a fast inventory (especially canned staples, dairy, baking supplies and “logistics” items like foil and trash bags).
Check online for your store’s exact holiday hours.
Make a short, all‑in‑one list and go once.

Then, hopefully, you can spend the rest of Thanksgiving 2025 where you actually want to be — away from fluorescent lights, at a table full of people you love, with every dish finally on the table.

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