Several retail chains across the United States have officially announced they are going to stay closed for the occasion of Easter. The Christian holiday falls on the 20th of April this year. Major chains like Target and Costco are going to shut their doors to the public. If you are someone who wants to know more about the upcoming “retail blackout” to happen on Easter Sunday this year, the following article is for you. It brings you everything you need to know about the blackout and information on exactly which chain is going to close the stores on Easter. This article also brings you information about the stores that are going to stay open on Easter Sunday.
Why Are The Retail Chains Closing Their Stores On Easter?
Several retail stores decided to close all their stores across the United States on the occasion of Easter Sunday. The holiday is going to fall on the 20th of April this year and marks the end of Lent. It is a widely celebrated holiday in the US. Hence, several retail chains made a decision to give their employees a well-deserved off. This is so that they can celebrate the holiday with their families.
Which Stores Are Closed On Easter Sunday During The “Retail Blackout”?
Famous retail chains, including Costco and Sam’s Club, are going to keep all their stores closed on the 20th of April amid the retail blackout on Easter. Target, which is known as one of the most popular retail chains in the US, is also going to keep around 2,000 stores shut for Easter. The following is a list of the retail chains that are going to stay closed on April 20 for Easter.
- ALDI
- Best Buy
- Costco
- H-E-B
- Homegoods
- Homesense
- JCPenney
- Macy’s
- Marshalls
- Michaels
- Sam’s Club
- Sierra
- Target
- TJ Maxx
Also read: Grocery Store Easter 2025 Opening Hours: Open or Closed?
Are There Any Retail Stores That Will Remain Open On Easter Sunday?
If you are someone who is looking for a retail store that is going to stay open on Easter Sunday, you have quite a few options. Walmart recently confirmed that it is not going to shut its stores for Easter. Many other retail stores are also going to follow in Walmart’s footsteps, staying open for all consumers on Easter. The list also includes major names like Kroger, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and Harris Teeter. The confirmed list of the retail stores open on April 20, even after a ‘retail blackout’, is:
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Trader Joe’s
- Wegmans
- Harris Teeter
- CVS
- Dollar General
- Home Depot
- Walgreens
- Whole Foods
- Dollar Tree
- Tractor Supply Company
- Sprouts
- REI
- Safeway
- Piggly Wiggly
- Cabela’s
Is The “Retail Blackout” On Easter Day A New Thing?
A “retail blackout” on the occasion of Easter Sunday is not something that is happening for the first time. Several retail chains have a history of shutting down their stores on major national holidays. Retail chains like Sam’s Club follow a yearly tradition of closing all their stores on Easter so that their employees can celebrate with their families. If you are someone who has shopped regularly from these stores will know that the stores closed on Easter the previous years as well. Major chains like Walmart and Kroger, which stay open every year on Easter, followed the tradition this year as well.
Why did Easter Holidays in brands become a trend?
While employees of several retail stores are losing their jobs, some brands have taken an initiative to increase their productivity. Being a human, employees also wish to spend Thanksgiving with their families every year. However, not everyone of them gets a holiday to celebrate the festival with them. This tradition of not giving off to the employees during festivities like Thanksgiving affects their productivity.
However, something has shifted in recent years, evolving the concept of Thanksgiving in retail brands, too. More and more retail companies have started giving holidays to their employees on Thanksgiving. This step is taken to appreciate their loyalty and the hard work they do each day to contribute to the company’s revenue. Additionally, these companies have given them equal opportunity to celebrate a day with their family and loved ones. It is a good shift in society, which ensures that all people are treated equally, like humans.
Furthermore, there are still many companies that do not provide a holiday to their employees for business expansion. In such a case, a few of them implement a holiday schedule for their employees. This holiday schedule frees them relatively earlier than the usual timings of their stores.
Has Walmart ever closed its gates on Thanksgiving weekend?
Walmart is one of the few retail stores that are ready with their services even on holidays, like Thanksgiving. It leaves a lesser chance for employees to go out to celebrate the weekend with their families. Moreover, their business-first approach never broke the queue, except in 2022. Walmart, along with Target, Best Buy, and many more, has once closed its gates for customers on Thanksgiving. It looked like a miracle in disguise, where employees working in their stores enjoyed a holiday with their families.
Walmart followed this trend for that year, but came back to its track the next time people anticipated a holiday. Afterwards, it has extended its holiday working hours due to the holiday crowd and the potential profits.
Conclusion
On Thanksgiving, every person is on holiday, except those working in retail stores. While we enjoy our day with our family members, they work to make our Thanksgiving memorable, compromising their time. However, many companies have started to understand and value the contributions of their employees. Thus, they provide extra benefits to their employees, including holidays, on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Additionally, several stores still operate the delivery apps on the holidays to make the experience of their customers worth it.
