Food & Grocery Stores Open on Boxing Day (December 26, 2025) in the USA: Complete

Boxing Day — December 26 — is not an official federal holiday in the United States (unlike in Canada, the UK, and other Commonwealth countries). As a result, most businesses, including major grocery stores, supermarkets, pharmacies, and retail chains, resume regular or near-regular operating hours on this day following the widespread closures on Christmas Day (December 25).

With Christmas 2025 falling on a Thursday, December 26 (Friday) created a long weekend for many, boosting post-holiday shopping, returns, exchanges, and restocking. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what food and grocery stores are open today, based on confirmed chain policies and holiday patterns for 2025.

Major Grocery Chains & Supermarkets – Open with Regular Hours

Most large grocery and big-box retailers that closed completely on Christmas Day reopened on December 26, often starting early for post-holiday crowds:

• Walmart — Stores nationwide reopened at 6 a.m. local time (some locations may vary slightly). Regular hours resume, making it one of the most accessible options for groceries, household essentials, and post-Christmas deals.
• Target — Reopened at 7 a.m. local time in most locations. Expect regular operating hours with potential extended deals on holiday clearance items.
• Kroger (including Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter, and other banners) — Closed on Christmas Day; regular hours resumed on December 26. Check your local store via the Kroger app or website for exact times.
• Costco — All warehouses closed on Christmas Day; reopened with regular hours on December 26 (typically 10 a.m. start, but confirm locally as warehouse hours can differ).
• Publix — Reopened with regular hours on December 26 after early closures on Christmas Eve and full closure on Christmas.
• Aldi — Closed on Christmas; regular hours (often early openings) resumed on December 26.
• Whole Foods (Amazon-owned) — Closed Christmas Day; back to standard hours on December 26.
• Trader Joe’s — Typically closed Christmas; reopened December 26 with regular operations.
• Other chains (Safeway, Albertsons, Meijer, Wegmans, Food Lion, Winn-Dixie, etc.) — Nearly all reopened with normal or near-normal hours on December 26. Hours can vary by location — always use the store locator on their official websites.

Pro Tip: December 26 often features post-Christmas clearance sales on holiday foods, decorations, and seasonal items. Many stores stock up on fresh produce, bakery goods, and meal prep items for leftover-based meals or weekend gatherings.

Pharmacies & Convenience Stores – Open & Ready

Pharmacies and 24/7 convenience options remained a lifeline on Christmas and continued normal operations on Boxing Day:

• CVS — Most locations open with regular hours (including pharmacy services in many stores).
• Walgreens — Open with standard hours; pharmacy availability varies by location.
• 7-Eleven & Speedway — Many locations operate 24/7 year-round, including December 26.
• Other convenience (Circle K, Wawa, etc.) — Generally open with regular schedules.

What’s Typically Closed or Limited on December 26?

• Banks — Most branches reopened with regular hours on December 26 after Christmas closures.
• U.S. Postal Service (USPS) — Post offices reopened for retail services and mail delivery resumed on December 26.
• Stock markets (NYSE/Nasdaq) — Trading resumed normally on December 26.

Why December 26 Feels Like a Shopping Day in the USA

Although the U.S. does not officially celebrate Boxing Day (a tradition rooted in British Commonwealth countries for gift-giving to service workers and post-holiday sales), American retailers have increasingly embraced it as an extension of holiday shopping. Many promote after-Christmas sales, returns, and clearance events on December 26 to move seasonal inventory.

Always verify locally — Hours can vary by store, city, or region due to staffing, local laws, or management decisions. Use each chain’s online store locator, app, or call ahead before heading out.