You’re standing in the kitchen. The realization hits like a cold wave: you forgot the heavy cream for the trifle, or maybe that one "must-have" toy for your niece is sitting in a shopping bag three towns away because you didn't realize the store was closing early on Christmas Eve. Naturally, you grab your keys and think, "I'll just run to the mall."
Stop.
Before you back out of the driveway, let's get one thing straight. If you are asking is mall open on christmas day, the short, blunt answer for about 99% of people in North America is a resounding no. Christmas is the one day of the calendar year where the retail industry—an industry that usually never sleeps—actually pulls the plug. It’s quiet. Eerily quiet.
Why the Mall Door is Locked on December 25
It wasn't always this way, but it's become the standard. Major developers like Simon Property Group, Macerich, and Westfield have established a firm policy over the last decade. They close. All of them. This isn't just about "holiday spirit." It's actually a massive logistical calculation.
Running a shopping mall is expensive. You have to pay security, janitorial staff, HVAC technicians, and management. If the anchor stores—think Macy’s, Nordstrom, or JCPenney—decide to close to give their staff a break, the mall loses its "foot traffic drivers." Without those big names pulling people in, the mall spends more on electricity than it makes in lease percentages.
Honestly, the retail labor market has changed too. After the massive shifts in 2020 and 2021, workers pushed back against holiday shifts. Retailers realized that staying open on Christmas Day actually caused a PR nightmare that wasn't worth the three extra blenders they might sell to a desperate last-minute shopper.
The Few Exceptions to the Rule
Now, I said 99%, not 100%. There are a few weird outliers. If you happen to be in a major tourist hub, the rules might bend.
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Take the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This place is a beast. Because it’s more of a theme park than a traditional mall, some of its attractions—like the Nickelodeon Universe or the DreamWorks Water Park—have been known to operate on holiday schedules. However, even there, the actual "retail" shops (the places where you buy clothes or electronics) usually stay dark.
Then there’s the "strip mall" exception. You might find a local pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens open. They aren't "malls" in the traditional sense, but they might be your only hope for a last-minute gift card or a box of chocolates.
What About Movie Theaters and Restaurants?
This is where people get confused. You see cars in the parking lot and think, "Aha! The mall is open!"
Usually, what you're seeing is the cinema crowd. Most AMC, Regal, and Cinemark locations attached to malls have their own exterior entrances. They stay open because Christmas is one of the biggest movie-going days of the year. This year, if there's a big blockbuster or a family-friendly Disney flick, that theater will be packed.
Restaurants with exterior doors—think Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano’s, or P.F. Chang’s—sometimes opt-in to Christmas hours. But here is the catch: they aren't part of the "mall" proper for that day. They are operating as independent entities. If you try to walk from your table at the bistro into the mall corridor to go to Sephora, you’ll hit a locked security gate.
The Cultural Shift Toward Closing
I remember when "Grey Thursday" (opening on Thanksgiving) was a huge deal. People hated it. There was this massive backlash against corporations "stealing" the holidays from workers. That sentiment bled over into Christmas.
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Experts like Neil Saunders, a retail analyst at GlobalData, have noted that the "cost-benefit" of being open on Christmas simply doesn't exist anymore. Most shopping has moved online anyway. By the time December 25th rolls around, most people have shifted from "buying" mode to "returning" mode. Retailers would much rather save their energy for the chaos of December 26th—Boxing Day or the "National Return Day."
How to Check If Your Specific Local Mall is the Outlier
If you’re stubborn and still want to check, don't trust Google Maps. Seriously.
Google’s "Holiday Hours" are often automated and can be wrong. The most reliable way to verify if your local is mall open on christmas day is to check the mall’s official Instagram or Facebook page. Social media managers are much faster at posting "We are closed today!" than a webmaster is at updating an official directory.
Also, look for "Grand Openings" or "Tourist Designations." In some states, malls in "designated tourist zones" are legally allowed to operate when others aren't. But again, this is incredibly rare for Christmas.
- Check the mall's official website (look for a "Holiday Hours" banner).
- Look at the "Anchor Store" hours separately. If Macy's is closed, the mall is closed.
- Call the security desk. If they answer, they can give you the truth.
What to Do If You're Desperate for a Gift
So, the mall is closed. You’re panicked. You have a dinner at 4:00 PM and nothing to show for it.
Your best bet is a 24-hour pharmacy or a large gas station. It sounds depressing, but places like Wawa, Sheetz, or 7-Eleven actually stock surprisingly decent gift cards, high-end snacks, and sometimes even small electronics.
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Another pro tip: Asian grocery stores. In many cities, H-Mart or local independent international markets don't observe the traditional Western Christmas holiday and stay open for regular business hours. You can find incredible gourmet gift items, unique sweets, or even housewares there.
The December 26th "Snapback"
The moment the clock strikes midnight on the 26th, the world resets. Malls don't just open; they explode.
If you were hoping to shop on Christmas, just wait 24 hours. You'll likely get a better deal anyway. Most malls open as early as 6:00 AM or 7:00 AM the day after Christmas to handle the deluge of gift cards and returns.
Honestly, the peace and quiet of a closed mall is probably a good thing. It’s one of the few times our consumer-driven society actually takes a collective breath. Even if it means you don't get that heavy cream for your dessert, the world will keep spinning.
Actionable Steps for the Holiday Shopper
Instead of driving to a locked parking lot, take these steps to ensure you aren't caught off guard:
- Download the App: Most major malls (like Simon) have an app that pushes real-time notifications about closures.
- Buy Digital: If you forgot a gift, a digital gift card sent to an email address is instant and doesn't require a mall to be open.
- Check the "Pad" Sites: Remember that stores on the "pad" (the separate buildings in the parking lot) have different rules than the interior stores. A standalone Starbucks might be open even if the mall is dark.
- Verify the Movies: If you’re going for a film, check which entrance is designated for "After Hours" or "Holiday" access. Usually, it's a specific parking deck level.
Basically, save your gas. The mall is almost certainly closed. Stay home, eat the leftover cookies, and wait for the post-Christmas sales to begin tomorrow. The retail giants have decided that for 24 hours, the doors stay shut, and for once, the employees get to see their families too.