If you’re scrambling for party napkins, a replacement charger or a midnight snack, good news: New Year’s Eve (Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025) is not a federal holiday, so a lot of doors stay open — although many will close early. New Year’s Day (Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026) behaves differently: expect more closures and reduced service.

Big-box and department stores

Most national retailers will be doing business on Dec. 31, but with trimmed hours at some locations.
  • Walmart: Generally open regular hours (many stores operate roughly 6 a.m.–11 p.m.).
  • Target: Open on Dec. 31, though many locations close around 9 p.m.
  • Best Buy: Many stores run 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (good stop for last-minute electronics and cords).
  • Home Depot and Lowe’s: Expect early closes at about 6 p.m.
  • Kohl’s and Macy’s: Typical Dec. 31 reduced hours (Kohl’s roughly 9 a.m.–7 p.m.; Macy’s often 10 a.m.–7 p.m.).
  • JCPenney, IKEA and smaller retailers: Open but with varying local hours (IKEA commonly 10 a.m.–6 p.m.).

    • If you’re shopping for laptops or other deals during the holiday rush, Best Buy and other chains will still carry major models — and if you want a deeper look at seasonal Apple laptop discounts, our coverage of MacBook Air deals can help you decide. You can also check availability directly MacBook models are available on Amazon.

    Grocery stores and wholesale clubs

    Grocery hours vary a lot by chain and region. Many chains stay open on New Year’s Eve but close early; New Year’s Day is where you’ll see more closures.
  • Open on Dec. 31 (with reduced hours in many locations): Kroger family stores, Walmart, Whole Foods (commonly 8 a.m.–9 p.m.), Safeway/Albertsons (reduced hours), Food Lion, and Meijer (often 6 a.m.–midnight).
  • Trader Joe’s typically closes early at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31 and is closed on Jan. 1.
  • Costco: Open on Dec. 31 (often 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) and closed on Jan. 1; Sam’s Club and BJ’s follow similar holiday schedules (Sam’s Club may close early on Dec. 31 and be closed Jan. 1).

    • If you’re making a wholesale run, double-check your local warehouse’s posted hours — chains commonly announce location-specific holiday times.

    Pharmacies and convenience

    CVS and Walgreens generally remain open on Dec. 31, but pharmacy counters and clinical services may run shortened schedules. If you need a prescription filled on Jan. 1, call ahead — many in-store pharmacies will be closed or on limited hours.

    Restaurants and fast food

    Plenty of national fast-food brands operate on Dec. 31. Expect most McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Starbucks and many IHOPs to be open; Chick-fil-A also reports locations open on Dec. 31 though local hours may vary. Sit-down and local restaurants depend heavily on the owner — many stay open for celebrations, while others close to give staff time with family.

    Banks, markets and mail services

    Because Dec. 31, 2025 is a Wednesday, banks will be open that day (teller services and branches follow normal schedules). New Year’s Day is a federal holiday: most bank branches and federally related services are closed.
  • Stock market: Regular trading hours on Dec. 31 (9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.). Markets are closed on Jan. 1.
  • USPS: Mail delivery runs as usual on Dec. 31; no delivery on Jan. 1. Plan shipping accordingly.
  • FedEx and UPS: Vary by service — Express often runs on Dec. 31 with limited operations on Jan. 1; check carrier notices for service exceptions.

    • Local attractions and services

    Museums, zoos and theaters often post holiday schedules well in advance. In some places (for example, several Florida attractions), many parks and zoos remain open both Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, while seasonal venues or performance schedules may be limited. If you’re headed out, check the attraction’s official site before you go.

    Electronics, gaming and last-minute gifts

    If a console or game is on your list, major retailers selling gaming hardware will mostly be open on Dec. 31 during reduced hours. For context on how console shopping and streaming are evolving, our piece about the PlayStation Portal streaming update explains one side of the ecosystem. If you do decide to buy a console this holiday, the PlayStation 5 Pro is one of the higher-profile options available PlayStation 5 Pro on Amazon.

    Quick tips before you head out

  • Call the specific store or check its local page. Chains frequently let individual locations set holiday hours.
  • For pharmacies and prescriptions, call ahead; pharmacies are often the first to shorten hours.
  • If you need mail or bank business on Jan. 1, assume it’s closed and make alternate plans now.
  • Consider curbside pickup or delivery if you want to avoid crowds and uncertainty.

The common thread across all chains: Dec. 31 is busy but broadly open; Jan. 1 is pared down. If there’s one thing the last-minute shopper learns every year, it’s this: small differences in closing times can matter — so a quick call or a two-minute website check will save you a wasted trip and get you back to the party faster.

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