What’s Open on Memorial Day 2025? List of Stores & Restaurants

Memorial Day 2025 lands on Monday, May 26, 2025the unofficial kickoff to summer and the official kickoff to
“Wait… we’re out of ice?” season. If you’re hosting a cookout, road-tripping, visiting family, or just trying to live your life
without running out of sunscreen, you’re probably wondering: what’s open on Memorial Dayand what’s very much not.

The good news: most retailers and restaurants stay open (sometimes with shorter hours). The “plan ahead” news: a few big-name
holdouts close entirely, and essential services like banks, the post office, and markets follow the federal holiday schedule.
Below is a practical, easy-to-scan guide to Memorial Day store hours 2025written for real humans who occasionally forget burger buns.

Memorial Day 2025: The Fast Cheat Sheet

• Usually open: big-box stores, most grocery stores, pharmacies, home improvement stores, gas stations, most restaurants.
• Often reduced hours: warehouse clubs (that are open), specialty grocers, mall stores, some coffee shops, shipping counters.
• Closed (or mostly closed): USPS/post offices, many banks, U.S. stock markets, many government offices, most standard UPS/FedEx services.
• The #1 rule: hours vary by locationalways check your local store/restaurant locator before you drive over.

Stores Open on Memorial Day 2025

Think of Memorial Day as “Sunday rules” for a lot of businesses: open, but sometimes running on holiday hours. Here are the types of
places that are generally open, with brand examples to help you plan.

Big-Box Retailers & General Merchandise

If you need last-minute paper plates, patio chairs, or a fan powerful enough to recreate coastal wind conditions in your living room,
big-box retailers are your best bet. Many major chains typically remain open on Memorial Day, though some locations shorten hours.

• Big-box and general retail stores (common examples include Walmart and Target) are widely reported as open on Memorial Day.
• Expect normal-to-reduced hours depending on region, staffing, and whether the store is in a mall or shopping center.
• Pro tip: if the store has a pharmacy inside, the pharmacy counter may run different hours than the main store.

Grocery Stores & “Cookout Rescue Missions”

Grocery stores are the heroes of Memorial Day. Even when you swear you bought enough hot dogs, the universe will test you.
The good news is that many national and regional grocers commonly stay open, sometimes with adjusted hours.

• Commonly open: large supermarket chains and many regional grocers (for example, Kroger, Publix, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods).
• Likely limited hours: some discount grocers. For instance, ALDI notes it operates limited hours on Memorial Day (varies by location).
• Grab-and-go help: prepared foods, deli trays, party platters, and bakery items often remain availablejust shop earlier to avoid sellouts.

If you’re hosting, aim to shop before noon. After that, you’ll be navigating the “everyone forgot charcoal” crowdplus a line that moves
at the exact speed of a melting popsicle.

Warehouse Clubs: The One Big Exception You Should Know

Warehouse clubs are where many people go for party-size everything. But Memorial Day is also one of the holidays when at least one major
warehouse chain closes nationwide.

• Costco: closed on Memorial Day (nationwide U.S. warehouse closure on the holiday).
• Sam’s Club: typically open with Memorial Day holiday hours and earlier access for Plus members (check your local club for exact timing).
• Other warehouse clubs: often open, but verify location hours because holiday schedules can differ by market.

Translation: if your plan depends on a Costco run, do it the day before. Memorial Day Monday is not the day to “swing by real quick.”
That is how dreams are crushed.

Home Improvement, Garden & Outdoor Stores

Memorial Day weekend is prime time for grills, mulch, patio projects, and discovering you own exactly one Phillips-head screwdriver
and it’s missing. Many home improvement retailers remain open on Memorial Day.

• Home improvement stores (commonly including chains like The Home Depot and Lowe’s) are widely reported as open on the holiday.
• Garden centers may be busy; shop early if you need soil, plants, or propane exchanges.
• Some services (like tool rental counters) may run reduced hours even when the main store is open.

Pharmacies, Convenience Stores & “I Forgot Sunscreen” Stops

If you need meds, allergy relief, bug spray, or the kind of chips that only exist in gas stations, you’re in luck. Pharmacies and convenience
stores are commonly open, with some stores operating reduced hours.

• Many national pharmacy chains are typically open on Memorial Day, but pharmacy counters may close earlier than the store.
• Convenience stores and gas stations are generally openbecause summer travel doesn’t take holidays off.
• If you need prescriptions, call ahead. Nothing says “holiday” like learning the pharmacy closed 10 minutes ago.

Malls, Department Stores & Specialty Retail

Memorial Day sales are a real thing, and many department stores and specialty retailers stay open to take advantage of the long weekend.
That said, mall-based locations may have holiday operating hours set by the mall itself.

• Many department and specialty chains are reported open on Memorial Day (hours may vary by store and location).
• If a store is inside a mall, check the mall’s holiday hours firststores often follow the mall schedule.
• Expect heavier traffic in shopping districts that run major Memorial Day promotions.

Restaurants Open on Memorial Day 2025

Memorial Day is prime time for eating out, ordering in, and declaring you’re “just getting an appetizer” before accidentally ordering
a full second meal. Many restaurants operate as usual, while some switch to holiday hours. Here’s the broad landscape.

Sit-Down Chains & Family Restaurants

Many sit-down chains remain open on Memorial Dayespecially the ones that cater to groups, families, and “we don’t want to do dishes”
energy. Common examples frequently reported as open include:

• Applebee’s
• Bahama Breeze
• Benihana
• BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse
• Bob Evans
• Bonefish Grill
• Chili’s
• Cracker Barrel
• Denny’s
• Other regional chains may also be openespecially breakfast and brunch spots

Your best play: check the restaurant’s locator or call the location directly. Holiday staffing and local demand can affect hours.

Fast Food & Quick Service

Many fast food and quick-service chains are commonly open on Memorial Dayhandy for travel days, post-parade hunger, or when your grill
mysteriously refuses to cooperate. Frequently reported examples include major burger, chicken, pizza, and sandwich chains.

• Several national fast food brands are typically open, though hours vary widely by franchise location.
• Chick-fil-A: the company notes U.S. restaurants are open on Memorial Day, with hours varying by location.
• Pizza delivery and pickup are often available, but peak-time delays can happen during holiday evenings.

Coffee Shops & Breakfast Runs

Coffee is practically a Memorial Day essentialespecially if you’re driving long distances or hosting people who woke up at 6 a.m.
“to get a good spot.” Many coffee shops are open, but store-by-store hours are the norm.

• Starbucks: many locations are typically open on Memorial Day, but hours vary by storeuse the store locator to confirm.
• Local coffee shops may be open, closed, or on reduced hours depending on staffing and neighborhood foot traffic.

What’s Closed (or Mostly Closed) on Memorial Day 2025

Here’s where Memorial Day behaves like a classic federal holiday. If your plans involve mail, banking tasks, or market trades, assume closures
and then confirm exceptions.

USPS & Post Offices

The U.S. Postal Service observes Memorial Day. That means post offices are closed and there is no regular residential or business mail delivery
on Monday, May 26, 2025. Normal service resumes the next day.

One important exception: Priority Mail Express is typically delivered even on holidays. If you’re expecting a standard package or letters,
plan for delivery to resume after the holiday.

Banks & Many Government Offices

Most banks follow the Federal Reserve holiday schedule, so Memorial Day usually means branch closures. ATMs and mobile banking still work,
but in-person services may be limited. Government offices and many courts also observe the holiday.

If you need something time-sensitive (like a wire or a document requiring in-person processing), handle it before the holidayor expect it
to wait until Tuesday.

U.S. Stock Markets

U.S. markets observe Memorial Day as a market holiday. That generally means the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed, with trading
resuming the next business day.

UPS & FedEx Shipping (Standard Services)

Shipping is the category most likely to surprise people on Memorial Day. The quick version: many standard pickup and delivery services pause,
while a few specialized options keep moving.

• UPS: Memorial Day is listed as a UPS holiday (standard services are typically not operating).
• FedEx: FedEx publishes a holiday service schedule; Memorial Day commonly includes closures for major delivery services, while some
  specialized services remain available and retail counters may operate with modified hours.

If you must ship something, check the carrier’s holiday page and your local retail counter hours. Many locations post holiday notices, and
cutoff times can change during long weekends.

How to Confirm Memorial Day Hours (Without Playing “Guess & Drive”)

Holiday hours are rarely one-size-fits-all. Here’s the fastest way to confirm what’s open near you on Memorial Day 2025:

1. Use the official store locator (retailer or restaurant website/app). It’s usually updated for holidays and more accurate than third-party listings.
2. Check for “pharmacy hours” separately if you’re visiting a store-within-a-store pharmacy counter.
3. Call the location if it’s a small business, a franchise, or somewhere you can’t risk being closed (like picking up catering).
4. Look for curbside and delivery notessome stores keep curbside open even when in-store traffic is reduced (or vice versa).
5. Shop early if you’re buying ice, charcoal, propane, buns, or anything that becomes scarce the moment the sun is out.

Memorial Day Shopping Strategy: A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

If you want to keep your holiday relaxed (and not become the person sprinting through a grocery store in flip-flops), here’s a simple approach:

• Do the “big cart” shopping on Sunday: meats, drinks, snacks, and anything you’d hate to substitute.
• Save Monday for “fresh and forgotten” items: produce, ice, extra napkins, a backup pack of hot dogs.
• Assume the parking lot will be chaos after 11 a.m. because it often isespecially near supermarkets and home improvement stores.
• Plan for closures: if you need USPS, bank services, or standard shipping pickups, do it before Monday.

Conclusion: What’s Open on Memorial Day 2025, in Plain English

On Memorial Day 2025, most places you’d shop or eatgrocery stores, big-box retailers, pharmacies, and many restaurantsare generally open,
sometimes with holiday hours. The biggest headline closure is Costco, which closes for Memorial Day. Meanwhile, essential services like
USPS/post offices, many banks, and U.S. markets observe the holiday with closures, and many standard
shipping services slow down or pause.

The best move is simple: check local hours, shop earlier than you think you need to, and leave a little space in your schedule to actually
enjoy the daybecause Memorial Day is also about remembrance, gratitude, and honoring those who served.

Bonus: Real Memorial Day 2025 Experiences (500+ Words of “Been There” Energy)

If you’ve ever lived through a Memorial Day weekend, you know it has its own personality. It’s half celebration, half logistics, and one tiny
part realizing you’ve been outside for 20 minutes and somehow the sun already won.

Experience #1: The Ice Panic. Everything is going beautifully: burgers are seasoned, music is playing, and someone’s uncle is explaining
a new grilling technique that appears to be “stand near fire and feel confident.” Then you open the cooler and see… three lonely cubes.
Not enough. Never enough. The trip for ice becomes a short quest with a surprisingly dramatic soundtrack in your head. This is when you’re
grateful that many grocery stores and convenience stores are open on Memorial Day. You speed-walk in, make intense eye contact with the freezer,
and leave feeling like you just saved civilization.

Experience #2: The “We Can Totally Swing By Costco” Myth. Someone will suggest it. It sounds reasonable. “We just need buns and a tray
of fruitCostco will be fast.” Except Memorial Day is one of those days Costco is closed. The realization hits like a sudden plot twist.
The group chat goes silent. Then someone says, “Okay, Plan B,” and Plan B becomes the nearby supermarket, where you learn the true meaning
of holiday crowds. It’s not badit’s just… spirited. Like everyone collectively decided to shop at the exact same time.

Experience #3: The Home Improvement Side Quest. Memorial Day weekend has a magical ability to inspire projects you didn’t know you wanted.
“We should hang lights in the backyard.” “We should stain the deck.” “We should build an outdoor kitchen.” Suddenly you’re at a home improvement
store, holding a box of screws and wondering when you became a person who owns a level. These stores are often open on Memorial Day, which is great
for motivationand also dangerous because motivation plus power tools is a strong combination.

Experience #4: The Restaurant Pivot. Sometimes the grill plan collapses. Maybe it rains. Maybe the propane tank is empty. Maybe someone
accidentally drops the tongs and everyone agrees that the universe is sending a message. This is when restaurants open on Memorial Day become the
MVPs. You pivot to a sit-down spot or a quick-service place, and suddenly the day feels easy again. The best part? No dishes. The second-best part?
Ordering a dessert you didn’t plan on, because it’s a holiday and joy is allowed.

Experience #5: The Quiet Moment. In between the errands and the fun, Memorial Day has a way of creating a pause. It might be during a parade,
a ceremony, a flag lowered at a memorial, or just a calm minute on the porch when the noise fades. That’s the heart of the dayremembering the people who
didn’t come home, and appreciating the freedom that comes with a cost. It’s okay for the day to be both: a gathering with family and friends, and a moment of
respect. The planning helps with that. When you know what’s open, what’s closed, and how to handle the basics, you get more time for what matters.

So yescheck your local Memorial Day store hours 2025, grab the ice, and enjoy the sales if you’re shopping. But also take a beat to remember why the holiday
exists. If you do that, you’ll walk away with a full cooler, a satisfied crowd, and the best kind of summer start.