Independence Day falls on a Saturday this year, and for Costco shoppers that means one thing. The warehouse giant will not open its doors Today, July 4. Anyone hoping to grab last minute ribs, potato salad or popsicles will need to make that run before the holiday arrives.
Costco stays open with regular hours on Friday, July 3, giving shoppers a narrow window to stock up before the long weekend begins. By Today, every location shuts down nationwide, from Chicago to Pittsburgh to the 20 Costco warehouses scattered across Arizona.
A pattern that repeats every year
The closure is not a one off. Costco shuts its doors for seven major holidays each year, a policy the company has kept consistent for years. Those dates include:
- New Year’s Day
- Easter Sunday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
That schedule sets Costco apart from most other big box retailers, which tend to stay open through nearly every holiday on the calendar with maybe a few adjusted hours.
How Costco compares to other retailers
While Costco goes dark, the vast majority of stores plan to operate as usual on July 4. Target, Walmart, Best Buy, CVS and Rite Aid are all expected to run regular hours, though some pharmacy counters and specific departments may scale back their availability for the day.
Grocery shoppers have plenty of other options too. Chains including Mariano’s, Whole Foods, Jewel Osco and Trader Joe’s plan to stay open through the holiday. Sam’s Club, Costco’s closest rival and a Walmart owned chain, will also remain open on July 4, though with adjusted hours. Plus members can shop starting at 8 a.m., while regular Club members get access at 10 a.m., and all locations close at 6 p.m.
Not every grocer is staying open, though. Heinen’s, which operates several locations in the Chicago suburbs including Naperville, Lake Bluff, Glenview, Barrington and Bannockburn, will also close for the holiday, mirroring Costco’s approach.
What else closes around the Costco holiday
Because July 4 lands on a Saturday this year, several other services are adjusting their schedules too. Government offices, banks and financial markets including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close Friday, July 3, shifting business ahead of the actual holiday. The U.S. Postal Service is an exception, staying open on July 3 with regular mail delivery continuing as scheduled.
For shoppers trying to plan a holiday cookout or last minute supply run, the takeaway is simple. Get your shopping done before Today, since the doors stay locked through the entire holiday, whether you’re shopping in a major city or one of Costco’s dozens of Arizona locations.
