Veterans Day is a federal holiday celebrated on November 11th each year. In 2020, that’s a Wednesday. Many stores and services close for the holiday. However, plenty of stores remain open each Veterans Day. Here is your guide to what is open and closed on Veterans Day.
Why Do We Celebrate Veterans Day?
First of all, what is Veterans Day? The president established the holiday at the end of World War I, then called Armistice Day, to recognize the veterans who served in that war. At the end of World War II, we as a country began recognizing it as Veterans Day. It now serves to honor and recognizes all veterans who serve in the American armed forces, during wartime or times of peace.
Veterans Day is a Federal Holiday
Veterans Day is one of the United States’ ten federal holidays. These are also called bank holidays, indicating that banks and credit unions will close for the day. Like other federal holidays, such as Christmas, other government services close as well. Post offices and courthouses, for example, will close for Veterans Day.
What Retail Stores Are Open on Veterans Day?
The majority of retail stores choose to stay open on Veterans Day. Therefore, if you want to do some shopping on your day off, then you should be able to do so with minimal interference from stores closing. Here are some of the major retail stores that stay open on Veterans Day:
Convenience Stores, Grocery Stores, and Gas Stations
Most convenience stores, grocery stores, and gas stations will be open on Veterans Day. In particular, if you shop at a big chain such as 7-11 ad Whole Foods then you should be able to shop regular hours. However, if you shop at local corner stores and markets then you might want to call in advance. Some of those smaller stores may close on Veterans Day.
Costco
Costco chooses to stay open on Veterans Day. Therefore you can do your grocery shopping, fill your gas tank, and pick up other goods on Veterans Day. Costco is open regular hours on Veterans Day. For most locations, regular store hours on a Wednesday are 10 am – 8:30 pm. Costco gas station hours are 6 am – 9:30 pm. Veterans Day shouldn’t change those hours. However, some store locations’ have changed hours due to COVID-19 so check with your local store if you aren’t sure if current hours.
Sam’s Club Warehouses
If you are a Sam’s Club shopper then you’re in luck because the store is open to members on Veterans Day. They only close for two holidays in the fourth quarter of the yearL Thanksgiving and Christmas. Otherwise, they’re open for shopping. Sam’s Club will be open regular store hours on Veterans Day. Therefore, you can shop from 10 am – 8 pm. Additionally, if you are a Sam’s Club Plus Member then you get the extra two hours of morning shopping starting at 8 am.
Target
Here’s another major store that will be open on Veterans Day. If you need to pick something up at the last minute, Target is often a good place to do so. Therefore, it’s nice to know that they stay open on some federal holidays including Veterans Day. They should be open regular store hours. For most locations, that means you can shop at Target on Veterans Day between the hours of 8 am and 10 pm. Of course, check with your local store to make sure that those are the hours they keep.
Walmart
Of course, Walmart is the go-to shopping destination for many people. You can go there to get affordable items across many categories. Whether you want to start your holiday shopping early or just pick up some groceries, Walmart might be your spot. If so, then you should be happy to know that Walmart is open regular hours on Veterans Day. Walmart store hours vary so check with your usual location. That said, if you know your location’s usual hours, then you can fairly safely assume that those hours will remain the same on Veterans Day.
Additional Retail Stores Open on Veterans Day
According to Mental Floss and The Holiday Schedule, the following retail stores should also be open on Veterans Day.
- Ace Hardware
- ALDI
- Barnes and Noble
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- Best Buy
- Big Lots
- BJ’s Wholesale Club
- CVS
- Dick’s Sporting Goods
- Dillards
- Dollar General
- Dollar Tree
- DSW
- Factory Mattress
- Family Dollar
- Foot Locker
- GameStop
- Gap
- GNC Gymboree
- Half Price Books
- Hallmark
- Home Depot
- Home Goods
- IKEA
- JCPenney
- Kohl’s
- Lowe’s
- Macy’s
- Marshalls
- Mattress Firm
- Michaels
- Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack
- Office Depot
- Party City
- Petco
- Petsmart
- Pier 1 Imports
- Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids
- Rite Aid
- Ross
- Sears
- Sephora
- Sherwin-Williams
- Staples
- Williams Sonoma
- World Market
Remember that some stores have new rules and/or new hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, you might want to call in advance to find out if the stores are open. Alternatively, you should spend Veterans Day shopping at a mall or big shopping area. Most stores will be open in those locations. Therefore, you should be able to get everything done that you need to in regards to Veterans Day shopping.
NOTE: Extra Services Inside Big Stores
It’s important to note that many big stores, such as Walmart and Costco, have additional services that locate within them. For example, you might use their pharmacies, tire centers, vision centers, banks, and so forth. Whether or not those stores will be open depends on a variety of factors including the service itself and the location. For example, Veterans Day is a bank holiday so most bank branches are closed even if they are located inside of a big store. Therefore, if you need to utilize the extra services, then you might want to visit these stores on Tuesday or Thursday, rather than on Veterans Day 2020.
What Retail Stores are Closed on Veterans Day?
It sounds like most retail stores are open on Veterans Day, right? Correct. However, each store has the right to set its own hours. In particular, small business may opt to close for Veterans Day. After all, a family business might want to close their doors in order to recognize family members who have served in the military. Therefore, if you prefer to shop at small, local, artisan, craft, or indie store then you will want to call them in advance to find out if they are open on Veterans Day. Remember to make sure of their holiday hours.
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