With Christmas approaching, many are gearing up for holiday meals, last-minute gift purchases, or simply grabbing last-minute ingredients for festive gatherings. Christmas Eve this year falls on Tuesday, December 24, and Christmas Day on Wednesday, December 25. Whether you're planning a feast or need to dash out for something you forgot, it's important to know which grocery stores and supermarkets will be open during this busy holiday period.
Most major grocery chains will operate under adjusted hours on Christmas Eve and will largely remain closed on Christmas Day. Here’s what shoppers need to know about grocery store hours this festive season.
Christmas Eve Hours
Many locations will be open on Christmas Eve, but with limited hours. Here's how some of the biggest grocery chains plan to operate:
- Aldi: Open for limited hours but will be closed on Christmas Day.
- Costco: Will have modified hours on Christmas Eve but will be closed on Christmas Day, with locations opening from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Kroger: Most stores will be open until 6:00 PM. Kroger pharmacies will close at 4:00 PM on Christmas Eve. All locations will be closed on Christmas Day.
- Meijer: Most stores will be open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day.
- Sam’s Club: Open until 6:00 PM on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day.
- Target: Stores will operate from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Christmas Eve, closing for Christmas Day.
- Trader Joe's: Operating hours will vary, though stores close at 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve and remain closed on Christmas Day.
- Walmart: Open for modified hours on Christmas Eve but closed on Christmas Day.
- Whole Foods: Open for modified hours on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day.
Pharmacy hours may differ, with many chains such as CVS and Walgreens having their own set of operational hours over the Christmas period. CVS tends to follow regular hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but some locations might be closed or have reduced hours for the holiday.
Christmas Day Hours
Shoppers hoping to grab groceries on Christmas Day will face significant challenges, as most grocery stores, including chains like Kroger, Aldi, and Costco, will remain closed. Here’s the general situation:
- Aldi: Closed on Christmas Day.
- Costco: Closed on Christmas Day.
- Kroger: Closed on Christmas Day.
- Meijer: Closed on Christmas Day.
- Sam’s Club: Closed on Christmas Day.
- Trader Joe's: Closed on Christmas Day.
- Walmart: Closed on Christmas Day.
- Whole Foods: Closed on Christmas Day.
If you find yourself desperate for something on Christmas, your best bet may be to head to local gas stations or convenience stores, which tend to keep longer hours or remain open throughout the day.
Here's the bottom line: Make sure to stock up on essentials on Christmas Eve to avoid scrambling on Christmas Day. With so many stores closing their doors, planning is key to ensuring your festivities don’t hit any snags!
Prepare, plan, and enjoy the holiday season!
