Stores Open on Christmas Day: A Helpful Guide

Stores Open on Christmas Day in the U.S.

Christmas Day is widely regarded as one of the most important holidays in the United States, as it’s the day when families come together, exchange gifts, and share a great meal.
However, for some people, the holiday also means shopping, whether it is to find the right food for the family gathering or pick up a last-minute gift.
Although the majority of the businesses shut down for the holiday, there are still some gift shops, food marts, essential stores, and even fast food chains that remain operational on Christmas Day.

Why Are Some Stores Open on Christmas?

There are various compelling reasons why some stores remain open on this Day despite it being a holiday focused on family and relaxation.
First and foremost, businesses that offer more crucial products, such as medications or food, usually remain accessible during holidays and weekends.
Additionally, some department stores that have ample foot traffic also open earlier or remain operational for a couple of hours to accommodate as many people as possible.
Lastly, with the increased popularity of online shopping, it’s more feasible for SE Asian nations to keep their stores open even during holidays like Christmas.

Famous Retailers That Are Operational

Big retailers remain open during the holiday season, most of which are operational on that day.
This event is more of a day of celebration rather than a shopping day; however, here are a few stores that remain open during Christmas:

CVS Pharmacy:
On Christmas Day, numerous CVS locations are operational as it’s one of the largest retail stores for health and medicine. Their great deals on gift cards, alongside medicines and food, allow them to attract lots of people eager to purchase gifts. Even if their hours of operation are altered on this holiday, CVS is a wonderful establishment to get your shopping done.

Walgreens:
Almost all Walgreens locations stay open during the holidays, including Christmas. They have a wide range of products, including medicines, cosmetics, and toiletries. While being highly beneficial on normal days, Walgreens also helps regulars with their last-minute shopping due to the great services they provide.

7-Eleven:
7-Eleven has a nationwide reputation for being open all day, every day. From food and drinks to small gifts or wrapping paper, they have it all. People on the go tend to stop at 7-Eleven on Christmas in search of simple solutions.
Operation hours do not alter during this event.

Circle K:
Circle K is most often opened on Christmas, as it provides food, drinks, and other indispensable items.
If you’re out running errands, Circle K is a good place to grab a quick snack or fill your car with gas.
Although they may close the store earlier than what is customary, it’s still a holiday store that remains open on Christmas.

Grocery Stores Open on Christmas Day

Some grocery stores remain open on the holiday, which gives you an extra option if you forget to buy something for your Christmas meal.
In the list of grocery stores that are usually closed on holiday, there are a few which open for limited hours.

Allow me to mention some of these grocery stores.

The Albertsons Companies

The Albertsons Companies have stores and outlets such as Safeway, Vons, Shaw’s and Tom Thumb.
These places are sometimes open on the weekend, but most importantly on Christmas, even if it’s just a few hours.
Even though these people may not stay operational throughout the festive season, they are a great choice for buying food or drinks during the holiday.
People frequently pop over to those stores for shopping needs as the holidays approach.

Kroger’s:
Kroger supermarkets can be found in different parts of the country.
Some Kroger chains may remain operational for limited periods while most of them observe a closure for the celebration of Christmas, but it’s best to check with the particular location.
Customers are able to buy all they need on this beautiful day eve because many Kroger locations are open on that day.

Fast Food Joints that are Open on Christmas Day

While many restaurants that offer seating services tend to close their operations on 25 December, fast food chains tend to open instead. Therefore, if you are looking for a quick bite, feel free to check out any of these fast food chains which usually remain open on Christmas.

McDonald’s:
On Christmas Day, the majority of McDonald’s branches remain operational. For the holidays, several restaurants will still accept customers, but the hours may be reduced.
The Everest offerings are breakfast or a light lunch. The most appropriate fast food restaurant on this holiday is McDonald’s because it offers rapid service for both drinks and food.

Starbucks:
People frequently stop by Starbucks, a coffee shop, to grab a cup of coffee or tea. A lot of Starbucks branches remain open on Christmas Day, mostly in areas with high traffic.
If anything, expect them to extend their holiday hours, but you can still grab a regular coffee or an exclusive holiday drink from Starbucks on the holiday.

Dunkin’ Donuts:
Similarly, in a lot of locations, Dunkin’ Donuts operates on Christmas Day as well. You can still grab a coffee, donuts, or breakfast sandwiches at Dunkin’ Donuts, albeit the hours may not be convenient. Dunkin’ Donuts is suitable for a fast bite to eat or snack for the holidays.

Gas Stations and Essential Services 

If you are on long distance travel, you may have an urgent need for gas or other supplies.
Most gas stations stay open over the Christmas holiday for support. Here’s a list of certain gas stations that remain open during Christmas:

Most gas stations, including Shell, are open for business twenty-four hours a day, even during Christmas.
So, if your car runs out of gas or you feel hungry while on the road, you can stop by Shell and refill your tank.
You can also find most people at these Shell stations buying food and drinks. This makes Shell an essential stop for road travelers during Christmas.

ExxonMobil:
You can also fuel your car at ExxonMobil petrol stations on Christmas Day.
You are free to come in for gas or a light snack and beverage. They also remain open to serving clients who are on the move and need to fill their gas tanks or pick up a few things.
If you are looking for food or gas, you can always count on ExxonMobil on Christmas Day.

Small Businesses and Local Shops

There are also some small cafes or local shops that are open on Christmas alongside the large retail chains.
These stores mainly include smaller local shops or other cafes which serve people who live within the region.
Not every shop is open, but a few opt to work for limited hours. Please confirm with the local shops that you hope will be open.

Things to Think About When Shopping on Christmas Day

In case you want to do some shopping on Christmas Day, there are important things to take into consideration, which include:

Short Hours:
Most retailers that choose to operate on Christmas Day do not run the normal hours. Such retailers also close earlier than usual. It is always good to confirm the traders’ opening and closing times.

Limited Items:
Some items won’t be available for purchase in shops during Christmas time. Some of these items may even be out of stock or tricky to find, hence some planning would be necessary.

Online Shopping:
If a particular item is not available at a shop, you can always look for it online. There are quite a few stores that enable customers to shop online, and they also offer email delivery services during the Christmas period.

Respect for Workers:
A lot of workers are on shift on the day of Christmas. Please be courteous and have some patience with them while availing their services. They’re usually busy making sure that they have everything in order to serve their customers.