You're standing in your kitchen on January 1st. The floor is covered in a light dusting of glitter from last night’s festivities, the fridge is mysteriously empty of anything resembling a real meal, and you suddenly realize you forgot to buy coffee filters. Or maybe you just need a quiet hour wandering the aisles of Bullseye’s Playground to clear the cobwebs from a late night. Naturally, the big question hits you: is Target open New Year's Day, or are you destined to wait until the 2nd?
The short answer is yes. Target is famously one of the few big-box retailers that keeps the lights on while the rest of the world is sleeping off a champagne headache.
But there’s a catch. Isn't there always? While the doors are unlocked, the hours aren't always what you'd call "normal."
Why the New Year's Schedule is Different
Most people assume that if a store is open, it's business as usual. That's a mistake that leads to a lot of frustrated tugging on locked glass doors at 7:00 PM. Target typically operates on a reduced schedule for New Year's Day. While a standard Tuesday might see your local spot staying open until 10:00 PM or even midnight in bigger cities like Chicago or Los Angeles, January 1st often sees those doors closing early.
Usually, you're looking at a 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM closure.
It sounds late enough, but if you’re moving slow because of the holiday, that time creeps up fast. I remember one year in Philly, I thought I had all the time in the world to grab some storage bins for my "New Year, New Me" organization kick. I rolled up at 9:15 PM only to see the security guard waving me away. It's a bummer.
Checking Your Specific Location
Target isn't a monolith. The corporate office in Minneapolis sets the broad strokes, but local managers and regional labor laws have a say in the fine print. A Target in a quiet suburb of Ohio might close way earlier than the massive flagship in Times Square.
The easiest way to be 100% sure is the Target app. Honestly, it’s more reliable than Google Maps, which sometimes fails to update for holidays. If the app says your store is open until 9:00 PM, trust the app. You can also use the "Store Finder" on their website, which pulls real-time data from their internal scheduling system.
What About the Services Inside?
This is where it gets tricky. Just because the main store is open doesn't mean everything inside is firing on all cylinders.
If you’re heading in specifically for the CVS Pharmacy inside Target, you might be out of luck. CVS often follows its own holiday schedule, which is notoriously shorter than Target’s retail hours. Many in-store pharmacies close entirely on New Year's Day or operate on a very limited 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM window. Don't drive all the way there for a prescription refill without calling the pharmacy line directly first.
The same goes for Starbucks. Most "Tarbucks" locations are open, but they often open an hour later and close an hour earlier than the rest of the store. If you need that caffeine fix to survive the first day of the year, aim for the middle of the day.
Optical centers and MinuteClinics are also hit-or-miss. These are specialized services. They require specific licensed staff who, frankly, probably want to be at home watching college football just as much as you do.
Is Target Open New Year's Day for Grocery Pickups?
Drive Up is basically the greatest invention of the 21st century for the tired and unmotivated. The good news is that Target’s Drive Up and Order Pickup services usually run as long as the store is open.
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However, expect delays.
New Year's Day is a massive day for "oops, I forgot that" shopping. The staff is often thinner because of holiday pay rates and scheduling rotations. If you place an order at noon, don't be shocked if it takes three hours instead of the usual two to get that "Your order is ready!" notification. If you're in a rush, just go inside. It’ll be faster, even if it means putting on real shoes.
Shopping the Post-Holiday Clearance
January 1st isn't just about survival shopping. It’s actually a secret weapon for bargain hunters.
By the time New Year's Day rolls around, Target is desperate to clear out the last of the "holiday" inventory. We’re talking 70% to 90% off wrapping paper, ornaments, and those gift sets that didn't sell in December. But there’s a shift happening. They are also moving into "Wellness" mode.
Walk into any Target on January 1st and you'll see a sea of yoga mats, air fryers, and organizational bins. This is the "New Year, New You" push. While the Christmas stuff is in the back corner at a deep discount, the front of the store is all about full-price resolutions.
If you want the deals, head straight for the back seasonal aisles. You can stock up on Scotch tape and neutral-colored tissue paper for pennies. It feels a bit weird buying snowflakes in July-like weather (depending on where you live), but your wallet will thank you next December.
The Employee Perspective
It’s worth noting that working on New Year's Day is a bit of a mixed bag for the "Team Members." Target generally offers time-and-a-half pay for hourly employees working on the holiday.
For some, it’s a great way to pad the paycheck after an expensive December. For others, it’s a drag. If you go in and the shelves look a little messy or the lines are a bit long, just remember that the person behind the register is working while most of the country is on the couch. A little bit of "Happy New Year" energy goes a long way.
Comparing Target to the Competition
If your local Target happens to be one of the rare ones with a localized closure (rare, but it happens in some malls), where else can you go?
- Walmart: Almost always open normal hours. They are the giants of holiday availability.
- Costco: Closed. Don't even try. Costco is one of the few major retailers that remains strictly closed on New Year's Day to give their employees a break.
- Walgreens/Rite Aid: Open. These are your best bets for emergency meds if the Target CVS is closed.
- Whole Foods: Usually open, but often with modified hours (like 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM).
Target occupies that middle ground. They aren't as "always on" as Walmart, but they aren't as "family first" as Costco. They want your business, but they also want to get their staff home before the late-night parties end.
Common Misconceptions About New Year's at Target
One big myth is that New Year's Eve and New Year's Day have the same hours. They don't.
Usually, New Year's Eve (December 31st) sees Target closing even earlier—often around 8:00 PM—so employees can actually go out and celebrate. Then they reopen on the 1st with slightly longer hours. If you’re planning a last-minute party run on the 31st, you have less time than you think.
Another misconception is that the "Dollar Spot" (Bullseye’s Playground) gets restocked on the 1st. In reality, that area is usually a disaster zone by New Year’s Day. The transition from Christmas trinkets to Valentine’s Day and organization stuff usually happens in the days following the 1st, so don't expect the bins to be perfectly curated when you walk in.
Strategic Tips for Your Visit
If you've decided to brave the store, do it right.
- Go early or go late. The mid-afternoon rush on New Year's Day is real. People wake up at 11:00 AM, realize they have nothing for lunch, and hit the store at 1:00 PM. If you go at 8:00 AM, you’ll have the place to yourself.
- Use the "Check Store Availability" feature. If you’re looking for a specific item—like a specific brand of oat milk or a certain size of storage tub—check the stock online before you drive. Holiday inventory counts can be wonky.
- Check the circular. Target often starts a new "weekly ad" right around the first of the year. You might find that the vacuum you wanted is suddenly $100 off starting that morning.
- Check the returns line. Be prepared for it to be long. People are still returning unwanted Christmas gifts on January 1st. If you have a return, try to wait until the 3rd or 4th when the dust has settled.
Final Actionable Steps
To make sure your trip is successful, follow this quick checklist before you leave the house:
- Open the Target App: Don't rely on memory. Check the "My Store" tab for today's specific closing time.
- Call the Pharmacy: If you need meds, call the direct CVS line. If it goes to a corporate voicemail saying they are closed, find a standalone 24-hour Walgreens.
- Bring your own bags: Some states have new plastic bag bans starting on the first of the year. It's a classic "New Year" surprise that catches shoppers off guard.
- Verify your "Circle" offers: Target often refreshes their Circle rewards on the first. You might have a "New Year" bonus for extra points or a percentage off your entire purchase.
Whether you're there for the clearance deals or just a bottle of aspirin and some peace and quiet, Target is ready for you. Just don't wait until 9:30 PM to decide you need that new toaster.