Even though Easter is a religious holiday, and not a federal holiday, it’s still a holiday celebrated by many people in the United States. Due to this, it can get confusing as to what places will and won’t be open for the holiday. Below lists some of the places you can expect to be open on March 27, 2016, and those places which will be closed.
Retail Stores
Large retail stores may be open or closed on Easter. This is really on a case by case with retailers splitting on whether to stay open or not on March 27. Some big name stores remain closed (Costco and Target are two), while others like Walmart stay open. For those wanting to know if a particular retail store will be open, visit the list of stores open and closed on Easter.
Drug Stores
Drug stores are open on Easter. If you have one of the three big drugstore chains (CVS Caremark, Rite Aid and Walgreens) near your house, they will be open on March 27. Drugstores are one of the few full size retailers which stay open 365 days a year.
Grocery Stores
Grocery stores may be open or closed depending on the chain. Some grocery store chains close for Easter Sunday, while others remain open. For example, Publix grocery stores close for the holiday, while Safeway and Kroger remain open. If you find you need to make a grocery store run at the last minute, it’s best to call ahead to confirm whether or not your local grocery store is open.
Convenience Stores
Major chain convenience stores are open on Easter. The vast majority of convenience stores (7-11, Circle K, etc.) will remain open on March 27. These stores usually remain open every day of the year.
Restaurants
Restaurants may be open or closed on Easter. It depends on the individual restaurant (or restaurant chain) as to whether or not they will be open on Easter. Some restaurants will have special hours and menus, especially for Easter brunch. The best course of action is to call any restaurant to confirm their Easter hours before going.
Gas Stations
Gas stations will be open on Easter. For those who will be traveling on March 27, there shouldn’t be any issues finding gas. Gas stations will be open for business in most cases, and even if a local one is closed, there should be another nearby that’s open.
Stock Markets
The stock markets are closed on Easter. Since March 27 is a Sunday and the stock markets are closed on Sundays, both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ will be closed for Easter. They will also be closed on Good Friday (March 25) as part of the stock market holiday schedule.
Libraries
Libraries are closed on Easter. If you like to visit your local library on weekends, make sure to note that the library will be closed on March 27.
Schools
Schools are closed on Easter. Since Easter lands on a Sunday, which is a day when schools are typically closed anyway, there are no classes at private and public schools on March 27. Some schools may also be on Spring vacation.
Government Offices
Government offices are closed on Easter. Even though it’s not a federal holiday, since easter is on a Sunday, federal, state and city government offices will be closed. There may be exceptions for essential government workers such as police and firefighters, but the vast majority of government offices will be closed
Banks and Credit Unions
Banks and credit unions are closed on Easter. There aren’t many banks open on Sunday, but even the few which are will be closed on Easter. For those who need to use bank services, you may be able to do so through the bank’s ATMs, their websites or their mobile phone apps.
Post Office, UPS and FedEx
Post offices and FedEx are closed, UPS is open on Easter. Both the United States Postal Service (USPS) and Federal Express (FedEx) are closed on Easter. United Parcel Service (UPS) recognizes the holiday, but doesn’t observe it. All their trucks will run as normal on Easter.
(Photo courtesy of Big D2112)
