What’s Open on Thanksgiving in NYC 2025? (Stores, Dining & MTA)
Let’s be real for a second: Thanksgiving in New York City is a weird, wonderful beast. One minute you’re dodging a giant inflatable Spider-Man on Central Park West, and the next you’re frantically searching for a bodega that sells cranberry sauce because you swore you bought it yesterday.
If you’ve lived here long enough, you know the city that never sleeps actually takes a little power nap on the fourth Thursday of November. But it doesn’t shut down completely. Far from it.
Whether you burned the turkey and need a rescue meal, or you’re just trying to escape your relatives for an hour, here is your no-nonsense, verified guide to what’s open and closed on Thanksgiving in NYC this 2025.
Disclaimer: Hours and policies can change at the last minute. We verified this info for the 2025 holiday season, but it is always smart to call your local store before leaving the house.
What’s Open on Thanksgiving in NYC 2025? (Verified Guide)
Major Retailers: The “Don’t Even Try It” List
Let’s rip the bandage off early. If you were planning a leisure shopping trip to the big-box stores, make other plans. The trend that started back in 2020 is holding strong for 2025.
- Is Walmart open on Thanksgiving 2025? No. Walmart is closed. (And let’s be honest, if you’re in NYC, you’re hiking to Jersey or Long Island for a Walmart anyway).
- Is Target open on Thanksgiving? No. Target keeps its doors locked on Turkey Day.
- The “Closed” Club: You can also expect Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods to be closed.
Pro Tip: If you need a last-minute electronics charger or a space heater, your local independent hardware store or a 24-hour Duane Reade is your best bet, not the big guys.
Grocery Stores: For the Last-Minute Chefs
We’ve all been there. It’s 10 AM, the bird is in the oven, and you realize you forgot the butter. Panic sets in. Don’t worry, you have options, but you need to move fast.
What grocery stores are open on Thanksgiving?
- Whole Foods Market: Most NYC locations are open, but they operate on modified hours. Expect them to close early (usually around 2 PM or 3 PM). The lines will be apocalyptic, so bring headphones.
- Wegmans: The Brooklyn and Manhattan locations are confirmed to be open from 7 AM to 4 PM this year.
- Trader Joe’s: Closed. Don’t even walk over there. They value their employees’ time off, which is great for them but tough for you if you need Everything But The Bagel seasoning.
- Fairway Market: A trusty NYC staple. Most locations usually stay open, often until the late afternoon.
- ShopRite Thanksgiving hours: If you are in the outer boroughs or Jersey, ShopRite stores are generally open, but hours vary heavily by ownership. Most are open 7 AM to 2 PM or 4 PM, but you absolutely must check your specific local store before heading out.
The Real NYC Savior: Your local Bodega. 99% of them will be open. They might not have fresh sage for your stuffing, but they’ll have milk, eggs, beer, and ice.
Dining: “What Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving Near Me?”
If you aren’t cooking, you aren’t alone. New Yorkers love eating out on Thanksgiving. However, you can’t just walk into Carbone without a plan.
- Chains: If you need something reliable and quick, Starbucks, Dunkin’, and McDonald’s generally stay open, though often with reduced hours. Applebee’s and Ruth’s Chris Steak House are also known to keep the lights on for the holiday.
- Local Spots: Check apps like Resy or OpenTable immediately. Many restaurants offer specific prix-fixe Thanksgiving menus.
- Chinatown: If you want to skip the turkey entirely, Chinatown (in Manhattan, Sunset Park, or Flushing) is one of the most reliable places to find a hot meal on Thanksgiving. Dim Sum is a fantastic alternative tradition.
- Hotel Restaurants: These are almost always open because they have guests to feed.
Attractions & Entertainment
So, you have the day off and want to see the city?
- Broadway: This is tricky. Most shows go dark on Thanksgiving Day to let the casts rest (or perform in the parade). However, for 2025, Chicago is the only show scheduled to perform on Thanksgiving Day (usually an evening curtain). All other shows are dark.
- Museums: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, and the American Museum of Natural History are Closed.
- Observation Decks: The Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Edge, and One World Observatory are generally Open. It’s actually a great day for views since the office buildings are empty.
- Ice Skating: The rinks at Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center are Open. It’s festive, but expect crowds.
Getting Around: The MTA Situation
If you are traveling between boroughs for dinner, listen up:
- Subways and Buses: operate on a Sunday Schedule. This means fewer trains and longer waits. Leave 20 minutes earlier than you think you need to.
- The Parade Impact: If you are anywhere near the Upper West Side or Midtown in the morning, bus routes will be diverted, and subway entrances along 6th Avenue might be closed or dangerously crowded.
Summary: Quick Cheat Sheet
Here is the “Fridge-Worthy” list to keep you sane this holiday.
OPEN:
- Whole Foods & Wegmans (Limited hours)
- CVS, Walgreens, Duane Reade (24-hour locations mostly normal; pharmacies may close early)
- Most Bodegas & Delis
- Empire State Building & Top of the Rock
- Bryant Park Winter Village
- MTA (Sunday Schedule)
- Hotel Restaurants & Chinatown Dining
CLOSED:
- Walmart, Target, Best Buy
- Trader Joe’s, Aldi
- Costco
- Government Buildings & Courts
- The Met, MoMA, Natural History Museum
- Banks (Federal Holiday)
- Post Offices (USPS)
- New York Public Library
Planning Your Morning?
Before you figure out your shopping list, you probably want to figure out how to watch the floats. If you are brave enough to head out to the parade route, you need a strategy.
Check out our complete breakdown here:
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2025: The Ultimate Guide to Routes, Times & Best Viewing Spots
More…
Are the courts open on Thanksgiving Day?
Hi, Sharon! Upon checking, standard court operations are closed on Thanksgiving Day in NYC.
Since Thanksgiving is both a federal and state holiday, all administrative offices, civil courts, and regular court sessions are closed.
However, NYC Criminal Court arraignment parts (where new arrests are processed) operate 365 days a year, including holidays, though often with reduced staffing or modified hours. But for the general public looking to handle legal business (jury duty, paying fines, filing papers), the courts are closed.