Walmart Will Be Closed on Thanksgiving Day This Year

If you’re asking, “Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving this year?” then we have your answer: Better order that 65-inch television now just in case, because Walmart stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Last Thanksgiving the retail giant closed for the first time in more than 30 years, ending the tradition of Americans scarfing turkey, then getting a jump on Black Friday in-store doorbuster deals. 

In a statement on its website, the retailer announced that it made the decision to close all U.S. Walmart stores on November 25, 2021, as a thank-you to its employees for all their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Throughout the pandemic, our associates have been nothing short of heroic in how they have stepped up to serve our customers and their communities,” said Dacona Smith, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Walmart U.S., in the statement. “Sam Walton said, ‘Our people make the difference,’ and that’s never been more true than it is right now. Closing our stores on Thanksgiving Day is one way we’re saying ‘thank you’ to our teams for their dedication and hard work this year. We hope everyone will take the opportunity to be with their loved ones during what’s always a special time.”

For Walmart, Turkey Day marked the official start of the holiday shopping crush: In 2019 the chain kicked off its 2019 Black Friday sale in stores at 6 p.m. local time on Thanksgiving Day but offered lots of online deals days earlier.

While Walmart has made the decision to close on a key day, dozens of other retailers find themselves in more challenging positions: Between COVID-19’s catastrophic impact on retail coupled with the continued rise of online shopping, the past few years have brought a store closing list that’s predictably vast. According to a January report from retail data firm Coresight Research, 10,000 stores in the U.S. could permanently shutter this year. Another issue this holiday shopping season: The worldwide shipping delays are creating inventory issues for many retailers. 

Don’t worry, though: Walmart and Sam’s Club will be open and operating within normal hours the day before Thanksgiving (November 25). As for the day after—a.k.a. Black Friday—the retail giant will have its usual deals. Walmart is also bringing back its Black Friday Deals for Days event, with Walmart+ members getting even earlier access to discounts. Starting November 3 online and in stores on November 5, customers can find deals on toys and electronics; savings in apparel, home goods, and more begin on November 10 (online) and November 12 (in stores).