You're standing in the kitchen. The turkey is thawing, the oven is preheating, and suddenly, you realize the unthinkable. You forgot the heavy cream for the mashed potatoes. Or maybe the canned pumpkin. It happens to the best of us. In Texas, that usually means one thing: a frantic dash to H-E-B.
But here is the catch. If you wait until the late afternoon, you are going to be staring at locked sliding glass doors.
What time does HEB close on Thanksgiving?
For 2025 and 2026, H-E-B stores are scheduled to close at 12:00 PM (noon) on Thanksgiving Day. Most people are used to H-E-B being open until 11:00 PM or midnight. Not today. They open early—usually at 6:00 AM—to help you grab those last-minute rolls, but they shut down early so their partners can go home and eat their own dressing and cranberry sauce.
Don't assume your local "Plus!" store or that fancy new one in Frisco stays open later. They don't. The noon cutoff is pretty much a company-wide rule.
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Curbside and Pharmacy: Even Sneakier Hours
If you think you can just place a Curbside order at 11:30 AM and swing by, think again. Curbside and Home Delivery have even tighter windows.
- Curbside Pickup: Usually runs from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
- Home Delivery: Generally stops by 10:00 AM.
- The Pharmacy: This is the big one. H-E-B Pharmacies are completely closed on Thanksgiving Day.
If you need a prescription or even just some behind-the-counter allergy meds, you've gotta get that done by Wednesday night. Honestly, Wednesday at H-E-B is a bit of a madhouse, so maybe aim for Tuesday if you can.
Navigating the Thanksgiving Eve Chaos
The day before Thanksgiving is basically the Super Bowl for Texas grocery stores. It is loud. It is crowded. There are samples everywhere (which is a plus), but the parking lot can feel like a contact sport.
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If you’re heading in on Wednesday, try to go before 10:00 AM or after 8:00 PM. Most stores maintain their regular 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM (or midnight) schedule on Wednesday. Just be prepared for the "H-E-B shuffle"—that awkward dance where you and three other carts are all trying to get to the same bag of pecans.
What about Central Market and Joe V’s?
H-E-B owns a few different brands, and they don't all follow the exact same clock.
- Central Market: These usually stay open a bit later, typically until 2:00 PM. It’s great for that high-end cheese you forgot, but it’ll be packed.
- Joe V’s Smart Shop: These budget-friendly spots also tend to close at 2:00 PM.
- Mi Tienda: Like the main stores, these often aim for a noon or early afternoon closure.
The "Meal Simple" Lifesaver
If you've completely given up on cooking, H-E-B’s Meal Simple section is a literal godsend. They have these individual Thanksgiving dinners—turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing—that you just pop in the microwave. They are surprisingly good.
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For the planners, you can actually pre-order full holiday meals from the deli or True Texas BBQ. You just have to do it at least 72 hours in advance. You pick them up cold with heating instructions, or in some cases, you can snag a hot pickup window on Thanksgiving morning if you're fast enough to book it.
When does HEB reopen?
The good news? You don't have to wait long for things to get back to normal. H-E-B reopens at its regular time on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving). Most stores will be back in action by 6:00 AM. Curbside and Delivery usually start back up around 9:00 AM that Friday. So, if you run out of milk for your post-holiday coffee, you’re only stuck for about 18 hours.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the App: Seriously. Use the H-E-B Go app or the standard store locator on their site. While the noon closure is standard, a few rural stores or unique locations might have slight variations.
- Buy your ice now: People always forget ice. By 11:30 AM on Thanksgiving morning, the ice machines at the front of the store look like a ghost town.
- Transfer prescriptions early: Since the pharmacy is closed all day Thursday, double-check your pill bottles on Monday.
Basically, if it’s 11:00 AM on Thursday and you’re still in your pajamas, stay there. You aren't making it to the store in time. Grab a drink, relax, and maybe ask the neighbors for that extra stick of butter.