You've probably been there. It’s 10 a.m. on December 25th, and you suddenly realize you forgot the heavy cream for the mashed potatoes. Or maybe the batteries for the kid's new remote-controlled car are nowhere to be found. It feels like the world has hit a giant pause button.
Honestly, finding what retail is open on Christmas can feel like a high-stakes scavenger hunt.
Most of the big players—we're talking Walmart, Target, and Costco—treat Christmas Day like it's the only day of the year they actually want their employees to stay home. And for the most part, they do. But if you’re staring at an empty carton of milk or a headache that requires immediate ibuprofen, you aren't totally out of luck.
The "Lifeline" Retailers: Pharmacies and Convenience Stores
If you need a store on Christmas, your best bet is usually a drugstore. Walgreens and CVS are the MVPs of holiday emergencies.
Most Walgreens locations across the country stay open on Christmas Day. However, there’s a catch you should know about. While the store itself might be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the pharmacy counter often operates on a completely different schedule. If you’re trying to pick up a life-saving prescription, don't just assume the pharmacist is there because the doors are unlocked.
CVS is a bit more of a "maybe." Many locations stay open with reduced hours (often 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.), but some are closed entirely. It really depends on if that specific branch is in a high-traffic urban area.
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Then you’ve got the convenience stores.
7-Eleven.
Wawa.
Sheetz.
Cumberland Farms.
Basically, if it’s a place where you can buy both a gallon of gas and a questionable hot dog at 3 a.m., it’s probably open on Christmas. Most 7-Elevens stick to their 24/7 schedule. Wawa and Sheetz are also incredibly reliable, especially for those in the Mid-Atlantic who need a sandwich because they burned the turkey.
Can You Actually Get Groceries?
Short answer: Kinda.
Long answer: Don’t expect to walk into a Kroger or a Publix. They are famously closed. Same goes for Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and Wegmans. They take the holiday seriously.
However, some regional chains like Albertsons and Safeway have a history of keeping select stores open. It’s never the whole chain. It’s usually a handful of locations in specific neighborhoods, often with very limited hours—think 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
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Giant Food and Vons also sometimes have "skeleton" hours. But honestly, you've gotta check their local store locator on the morning of. It’s not the kind of thing they blast on a billboard because they don't want a stampede of people who forgot their cranberry sauce.
A Quick Reality Check on Big Box Stores
I’ve seen people circling the Target parking lot on Christmas morning like they’re looking for a miracle. It’s not happening.
Target, Walmart, and Best Buy have made it a point in recent years to stay closed on both Thanksgiving and Christmas. They’ve realized that the cost of staying open doesn't always outweigh the benefit of giving staff a break. Plus, it’s good PR.
Where to Find a Last-Minute Gift
If you totally whiffed on a gift and the gas station "Best Grandpa" mug isn't going to cut it, look toward the drugstores again. Rite Aid (though they’ve been closing many locations lately) and the aforementioned CVS often have a surprisingly decent aisle of "emergency" gifts—think Lego sets, makeup kits, or high-end chocolates.
Also, don't sleep on Starbucks.
Many Starbucks locations stay open on Christmas Day, though usually with a "short" shift like 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can grab a pound of whole-bean coffee or one of those tumblers and pretend you planned it weeks ago.
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Why the Rules Keep Changing
The landscape of holiday retail is shifting. Ten years ago, you might have found more local spots open, but labor shortages and a push for "work-life balance" have changed the game.
Even some 24-hour diners like Denny's or IHOP are the main "retail" outlets on the holiday because they sell gift cards and small merchandise. If you're in a pinch, these are the places where the lights are guaranteed to be on.
One thing people often get wrong is assuming that because a store is in a mall, it might be open. Nope. If the mall is closed, the store is closed. There are very few exceptions to this rule, unless the store has its own exterior entrance (like some large department stores), but even then, on Christmas? It’s a ghost town.
The Strategy for Success
Don't just drive around wasting gas.
- Use the App: Most major retailers update their holiday hours in their official apps about 48 hours before the day.
- Google Maps "Live" Data: Look for the "Hours may differ" warning on Google. If it doesn't say "Confirmed by phone 2 days ago," call them.
- The "Hospital Pharmacy" Trick: If you have a genuine medical emergency and CVS is closed, check the pharmacy inside or adjacent to your local hospital. They are almost always operational 365 days a year.
Summary of Who is Usually Open
While it varies by zip code, here is the general breakdown of what you can count on:
- Convenience/Gas: 7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa, Sheetz, Speedway, Buc-ee's.
- Drugstores: Walgreens (most), CVS (select), Duane Reade.
- Coffee/Food: Starbucks (select), Dunkin' (select), Denny's, IHOP, Waffle House.
- Groceries: Safeway (select), Albertsons (select), Vons (select).
If you are planning to head out, do it early. Most places that choose to open on Christmas will shut down by late afternoon so their employees can get home for dinner.
Next Steps for You
- Check your local store locator now: If you think you might need something, go to the Walgreens or CVS website today and plug in your zip code to see their specific December 25th hours.
- Buy the essentials on Christmas Eve: Most stores like Walmart and Target stay open until 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. on the 24th. A quick run then will save you a massive headache the next morning.