Some doors stay locked on Thanksgiving Day, and one family-restaurant chain plans to keep its kitchen running. On Thursday, Nov. 26, Walmart, Target and Lowe’s have all said their stores will be closed, while Cracker Barrel says it is open.
All three retailers announced the closures on their own corporate pages in the past several weeks. Cracker Barrel’s holiday page says the chain is open regular hours that day.
The Retailers Staying Shut: Walmart, Target and Lowe’s
Walmart said in an Oct. 7 release that its stores will be closed again on Thanksgiving and Christmas so associates can enjoy the holidays. The release does not list Black Friday hours, but it does say Express Pickup will expand nationwide in the coming weeks, in time to shop for the Thanksgiving meal.
Target’s holiday fact sheet is just as plain. Under its 2026 holiday shopping information, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, reads “All stores closed.” Black Friday, Nov. 27, reads “Stores open at 6 a.m. local time and close at current closing time.”
Lowe’s made its call in an Oct. 8 press release: “Lowe’s stores will remain closed on Thanksgiving Day so associates can spend time with their loved ones.” Customers can still shop online-only deals that day, and members of its rewards programs get online access to Black Friday Doorbusters one day before they open to everyone on Nov. 27.
A fuller rundown of Friday’s openings is in a look at expected Black Friday hours at Walmart, Target, Home Depot and Lowe’s. A roundup of carry-on suitcases worth packing for Thanksgiving suits anyone who would rather travel than shop, and a list of travel blunders that turn a vacation into a stress fest is worth skimming before the drive. For the holiday itself, odd American traditions that confuse the rest of the world makes a lighter read.
Cracker Barrel Keeps the Table Set
Cracker Barrel’s holiday page says the chain is “open regular hours on Thanksgiving Day” and serves a traditional meal starting at 11 a.m. The page suggests using the online wait list and Pay and Go to shorten a visit.
USA Today reported on Oct. 21, in a piece by Anthony Thompson carried by The Spokesman-Review, that the restaurants plan to serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, Nov. 26. The plate includes roasted turkey breast, cornbread dressing, gravy, green beans, sweet potato casserole and cranberry relish.
That report adds the caveat worth remembering: hours may vary by location. It also notes that the seasonal menu arrived Oct. 20 with two new dishes, Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes and a Country Fried Turkey Sandwich. The chain’s take-home meals are covered in a post on Cracker Barrel’s Thanksgiving Heat n Serve preorders.
A neighboring look at which restaurants are expected to be open on Thanksgiving covers Denny’s, IHOP, Waffle House and McDonald’s. For families hitting the road, family luggage sets for holiday trips and a guide to which grocers are expected to close or open for the morning round out the planning.
Take-Home Dinners Before the Holiday
For households that would rather eat at home, Cracker Barrel’s Heat n Serve meals are available for pickup from Nov. 21 through Nov. 29, with pre-orders required. The Turkey Family Dinner serves four to six people and the Turkey Feast serves eight to 10, according to the USA Today report.
The feast includes two turkey breasts, sides, sweet rolls, pumpkin pie and pecan pie. Orders need at least 12 hours’ notice, and meals are available while supplies last. The company also says it will be closed Christmas Day, with Christmas meals available for pickup Dec. 21 through Dec. 28.
Other Chains to Know and Hours That Vary
Costco says on its Thanksgiving page that it “will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026.” Yahoo Shopping, in a list last updated Nov. 6, also reports Best Buy, Home Depot and Kohl’s as confirmed closed, along with Aldi, Publix and Trader Joe’s.
The same Yahoo Shopping list says Walgreens is closed at most stores except 24-hour locations, while CVS and the large grocery chains keep modified hours that vary by store. The article notes that hours for the other retailers on its list come from last year, so a call to the local store is the safest check.
Yahoo lists last year’s hours for several chains, including Meijer from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sprouts from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and stresses that those are not confirmed for 2026. Some states also bar liquor store sales on the holiday, Yahoo notes, including Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Rhode Island.
Back in Business on Friday
For shoppers, the closures mostly mean a one-day pause. Target reopens at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, per its fact sheet, and Lowe’s Doorbusters open to everyone on Nov. 27. Walmart’s release did not give a Black Friday time, so that detail is worth confirming closer to the date.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Image: Glenn Samonte – CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons
