Thanksgiving Day has arrived on Thursday, Nov. 27, and if you’re responsible for cooking the turkey, that bird hopefully already sits in your refrigerator. However, side dishes often require countless ingredients, making it remarkably easy to forget something crucial like cream for mashed potatoes or fresh herbs for stuffing.
For those wondering whether ShopRite can save your Thanksgiving dinner with a last-minute shopping trip, good news awaits. The popular grocery chain accommodates holiday shoppers, though with some important caveats about hours and availability that could affect your plans.
Understanding which locations remain open and their specific closing times prevents the frustration of arriving at locked doors when you desperately need that forgotten ingredient. Planning your shopping strategy around these modified hours ensures a smoother Thanksgiving experience.
ShopRite opens with varied schedules
ShopRite stores will be open on Thanksgiving Day, providing relief for cooks who discover missing ingredients or need emergency substitutions. However, hours vary significantly by location, making it essential to verify your specific store’s schedule before heading out.
Some ShopRite locations will be closed entirely for the holiday. The ShopRite of Flemington and Mansfield both shut their doors on Thanksgiving, giving employees the full day off. Shoppers who typically frequent these locations need alternative plans for last-minute purchases.
Other ShopRite stores maintain their regular 24-hour operations even on Thanksgiving. The Englewood and Linden locations both remain open around the clock, providing maximum flexibility for shoppers regardless of when they need to make their grocery run.
For stores operating neither 24 hours nor closing completely, average closing hours fall between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. This three-hour variation means checking your specific location becomes crucial rather than assuming all ShopRite stores follow identical schedules.
Early shopping recommended
If your local ShopRite opens on Thanksgiving with limited hours, heading out early in the day represents the smartest strategy. Stores closing at 2 p.m. provide a narrow window for last-minute shopping, particularly if you discover a missing ingredient while already deep into meal preparation.
Early morning shoppers also benefit from fully stocked shelves before other procrastinating cooks deplete popular items. Fresh produce, dairy products and bakery items often see heavy demand on Thanksgiving morning as people realize they underestimated quantities or forgot key ingredients entirely.
Arriving closer to closing time risks encountering longer checkout lines as other last-minute shoppers race against the deadline. The stress of watching the clock while navigating crowded aisles adds unnecessary pressure to what should be an enjoyable holiday.
Other grocery options available
Beyond ShopRite, several other grocery chains remain open on Thanksgiving with varying hours. ACME stores operate from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., though individual locations may differ slightly. Amazon Fresh maintains 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours across its locations.
Foodtown stores keep varied schedules by location, requiring individual verification before shopping. Stop & Shop operates from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., though all pharmacy locations within stores will be closed for the holiday.
Wegmans stores open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with pharmacies also closed on Thanksgiving. Whole Foods maintains 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. hours at most locations, though some stores may vary from this schedule.
Major chains staying closed
Several major grocery retailers close entirely on Thanksgiving Day. Aldi, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Costco all shut their doors, prioritizing employee time off during the holiday. Lidl, Sam’s Club and Trader Joe’s join this list of completely closed grocery chains.
Target and Walmart, both of which sell groceries alongside general merchandise, remain closed on Thanksgiving as well. These closures represent a shift from previous years when some retailers opened on the holiday to accommodate Black Friday shopping that began on Thursday evening.
The trend toward Thanksgiving closures reflects changing attitudes about work-life balance and allowing retail employees to spend the holiday with their families rather than serving customers.
Liquor store considerations
For shoppers hoping to grab wine or spirits as a host gift or to accompany Thanksgiving dinner, options become more limited. Most liquor stores operate on restricted hours or close entirely on Thanksgiving.
Total Wine and ShopRite Liquors locations may remain open in some areas, though shoppers should verify hours before making the trip. Most locations planning to open will close by roughly 4 p.m. or 6 p.m., significantly earlier than normal operating hours.
Planning wine purchases for Wednesday, Nov. 26 eliminates the uncertainty and stress of hunting for an open liquor store on Thanksgiving Day itself. This advance preparation ensures you have appropriate beverages without last-minute scrambling.
Planning your Thanksgiving strategy
The varied grocery store schedules on Thanksgiving emphasize the importance of planning ahead and verifying specific store hours before leaving home. A quick phone call or online check prevents wasted trips to closed stores when time is already tight.
Creating a detailed list of forgotten items helps maximize efficiency during limited shopping windows. Knowing exactly what you need allows for quick in-and-out trips rather than wandering aisles trying to remember what’s missing from your pantry.
For truly essential ingredients, identifying multiple backup stores with different closing times provides insurance against arriving too late at your first choice. This redundancy planning feels excessive but proves valuable when facing a 2 p.m. closing deadline and unexpected traffic delays.
Ultimately, completing the bulk of Thanksgiving shopping before the holiday remains the most reliable approach. Using stores’ regular hours on Tuesday or Wednesday allows thorough, relaxed shopping without the pressure of racing against early closing times or competing with other last-minute shoppers for picked-over inventory.
Source: NJ.com