Emergency Shopping: What Stores Are Open on Christmas Day 2025?

It happens to the best of us: the batteries are missing, the milk is spoiled, or you forgot a gift for Uncle Bob. While major retailers close their doors to let employees celebrate, a few lifesavers remain open on December 25th.

Pharmacies & Convenience

Your best bet for last-minute essentials.

• CVS: OPEN. Most locations operate with reduced hours (typically 8 AM – 9 PM).
• Walgreens: OPEN. Many non-24-hour stores will be open from 9 AM – 5 PM. 24-hour locations remain open all day.
• 7-Eleven: OPEN. Reliable as always, most locations are open 24/7.
• Wawa / Sheetz: OPEN. If you are in the Mid-Atlantic, these are your best friends for food and gas.

Grocery Stores

Finding a full grocery store is tough. Most are closed.

• OPEN (Select Locations): Albertsons, Safeway, and Giant Food often have limited holiday hours (e.g., 8 AM – 4 PM). Call ahead!
• CLOSED: Walmart, Target, Publix, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Aldi, and Costco are CLOSED nationwide.

Retail Experts

• Family Dollar / Dollar General: Mixed. Some locations open for short shifts, but don't count on it without checking the app.

Tips for Christmas Day Shopping

1. Call Ahead: This cannot be stressed enough. "Open" on Google Maps does not always mean open on Christmas.
2. Go Early: Most stores that do open will close early (around 4 PM or 5 PM).
3. Be Patient: Staffing is minimal. The lines will be long.

Good luck saving Christmas!

Source = https://unstory.app/retail/stores-open-christmas-day-2025-schedule