Thanksgiving 2025 Grocery Hours in Western New York: Which Stores Open, Closed, and When Black Friday Starts

On Thanksgiving Day 2025, Western New York shoppers will face a patchwork of store hours — some supermarkets open with limited staff, others shuttered entirely. Thanksgiving 2025 falls on Thursday, November 27, and while families gather for turkey and stuffing, the region’s grocery landscape will be dramatically altered. Unlike past years when nearly every store closed, a growing number of chains are staying open — but with shortened shifts, fewer employees, and tighter inventories. The message from local news outlets like 13WHAM News is clear: Don’t assume. Check your store.

Who’s Open on Thanksgiving Day?

Several major grocery chains plan to remain open on November 27, 2025, though with reduced hours — typically from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., down from the usual 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. According to 13WHAM News’s 2025 holiday schedule, the following retailers will be open across Monroe, Erie, Niagara, and other Western New York counties:

• Wegmans Food Markets Inc. — Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in all locations
• ShopRite (Wakefern Food Corporation) — Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., depending on store
• Whole Foods Market (Amazon.com Inc.) — Open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Acme Markets — Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Food Lion LLC — Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. — Open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Hannaford Brothers Company — Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC — Open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Notably, Kroger and its subsidiaries — including Ralphs Grocery Company and Vons — will also be open, but hours vary by region. In Buffalo and Rochester, expect closures in some suburban locations, especially smaller-format stores.

Who’s Closed? The Big Names Shutting Down

While some grocers are staying open, others are doubling down on family time. Target Corporation, Walmart Inc., and Costco Wholesale Corporation will be fully closed on Thanksgiving Day — a policy they’ve maintained since 2013. Trader Joe’s Company and ALDI Inc. will also remain shuttered, as will Publix Super Markets Inc. and Sam’s Club (Walmart Inc.).

It’s not just about closing doors — it’s about signaling values. Costco has long cited employee well-being as the reason for its Thanksgiving closure, offering paid time off and bonuses to staff. Target followed suit after public pressure in 2013, and the move has since become industry norm for many mid- to large-sized chains.

Black Friday: The Early Rush Begins

As soon as Thanksgiving ends, the holiday shopping machine roars back to life. Wegmans and ShopRite will reopen at 6 a.m. on Friday, November 28, 2025, with extended hours until midnight. Walmart and Target will open at 5 a.m. — some locations even earlier, with doorbusters starting at 4 a.m. in high-demand areas like the Buffalo suburbs.

And it’s not just retail. The Nasdaq Stock Market will close early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Black Friday, a tradition since 2001. The United States Postal Service will remain closed on Thanksgiving, with only Priority Mail Express running — regular delivery resumes Friday morning.

What Shoppers Should Know

Even if your favorite store is open, don’t expect full shelves. Due to reduced staffing, holiday staples like fresh turkeys, cranberry sauce, and stuffing mixes are likely to sell out by midday. One Rochester shopper told 13WHAM News she arrived at 8 a.m. on Thanksgiving 2024 and found only two boxes of stuffing left. "It’s not just about being open — it’s about whether they have what you need," she said.

Also, be prepared for longer lines. With fewer cashiers on duty, checkout times may double. Some stores are testing self-checkout kiosks with enhanced staff assistance — but not all locations have them.

And here’s a quiet truth: many of the stores open on Thanksgiving are doing so because of labor shortages. Staffing levels are still 12% below pre-pandemic averages in Western New York grocery stores, according to the New York State Retail & Food Services Workers Union. That means even open stores are running lean.

What’s Next? The Pattern Holds

This isn’t new. For the past decade, the Thanksgiving grocery schedule has remained remarkably consistent across the U.S. — with regional variations. Western New York follows the same pattern as the Northeast and Midwest: Wegmans, ShopRite, and other regional chains open; national discounters like Walmart and Costco stay closed. The only real shift? More stores are opening now than in 2015, when only 30% of major chains operated on Thanksgiving. Today, it’s closer to 60%.

But consumer sentiment is changing. A 2024 survey by the Consumer Federation of America found that 58% of shoppers prefer stores to stay closed on Thanksgiving. Yet, 41% say they’ll shop anyway — because they’re last-minute shoppers, or they need specific items.

The industry’s balancing act is clear: profit vs. principle. And for now, most chains are choosing both — open for business, but with a nod to tradition.