Quick Answer
On Memorial Day 2026 (Monday, May 26, 2026), Walmart, Target, Sam's Club, Publix, Trader Joe's, Meijer and Food Lion stay open. Costco is closed nationwide, including its gas stations. ALDI runs limited hours and closes early at 4:00 PM.
USPS, UPS and FedEx all suspend standard delivery service. Banks are closed because Memorial Day is a Federal Reserve holiday, but ATMs and online banking remain active.
Major Retailers and Big-Box Stores
Walmart
Status: Open. Most locations operate on standard hours of 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The in-store pharmacy may run on a holiday schedule, so I always call ahead before counting on a same-day prescription pickup.
Target
Status: Open. Target maintains regular hours across the country. The seasonal section is usually stocked with grilling supplies, patio essentials, and Memorial Day sale tags.
Costco Wholesale
Status: Closed. As part of its long-standing corporate policy, every Costco warehouse and every Costco gas station is closed on Memorial Day to give employees a paid day off. The Costco app and Costco.com remain functional for online orders.
Sam's Club
Status: Open with modified hours. Plus members can typically enter at 8:00 AM, with Club members admitted from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Sam's Club cafes and pharmacies may close earlier than the main floor.
Grocery Store Chains
Publix
Status: Open. Most Publix locations keep standard hours. In-store pharmacies are often closed or operating on a limited holiday shift, which is the one section worth confirming by phone.
Trader Joe's
Status: Open. Standard operating hours apply across all locations nationwide.
ALDI
Status: Open with limited hours. Most ALDI stores close early at 4:00 PM on Memorial Day. The store locator app is the most reliable source for any specific location's holiday schedule.
Meijer and Food Lion
Status: Open. Both regional chains keep normal hours. Meijer typically runs 24-hour service at locations that already operate on that schedule the rest of the week.
Mail, Shipping and Banking
United States Postal Service
Status: Closed. No residential or commercial mail delivery. Post office lobbies are closed nationwide. Priority Mail Express is the only category that still moves on Memorial Day.
UPS and FedEx
Status: Closed. Standard pickup and delivery is suspended. The only exceptions are UPS Express Critical and FedEx Custom Critical, both of which are time-definite premium services that operate 365 days a year.
Banks
Status: Closed. Memorial Day is a Federal Reserve holiday, which means physical bank branches across the country are closed. ATMs remain operational, mobile banking apps stay fully functional, and Zelle and ACH transfers may post the next business day rather than same day.
Master At-a-Glance Table
| Brand or Institution | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | Open | Standard hours, pharmacy may differ |
| Target | Open | Standard hours |
| Costco | Closed | Includes gas stations |
| Sam's Club | Open | Closes early at 6:00 PM |
| Publix | Open | Pharmacies may be closed |
| Trader Joe's | Open | Standard hours |
| ALDI | Limited | Closes early at 4:00 PM |
| Meijer | Open | Standard hours |
| Food Lion | Open | Standard hours |
| USPS | Closed | No standard mail delivery |
| UPS | Closed | Express Critical only |
| FedEx | Closed | Custom Critical only |
| Banks | Closed | ATMs and apps active |
What Else Is Open on Memorial Day
- Restaurants and fast food. Most national chains operate normal hours, with many running Memorial Day specials. Some independent restaurants close to give staff a long weekend.
- Gas stations. Standard chains stay open. Costco gas is the notable exception.
- Pharmacies. CVS and Walgreens typically stay open, though specific 24-hour locations may shift to standard hours.
- Movie theaters and entertainment venues. Open and usually busy. Memorial Day weekend is one of the largest box office windows of the year.
- Public transit. Most systems operate on a Sunday or holiday schedule. Check your local agency before relying on standard weekday timing.
What Is Closed
- Federal government offices and courts
- State government offices in most states
- Public schools and most colleges
- The stock markets (NYSE and Nasdaq)
- Most professional offices, law firms and accounting firms
Planning Tips
If I am hosting a Memorial Day barbecue, I do my grocery shopping on Sunday. Memorial Day Monday at any open grocery store is one of the busiest single shopping days of the year, and the meat and produce sections get picked over by mid-morning. For shipping, I always send anything time sensitive on the Friday before to avoid the inevitable Tuesday backlog as USPS, UPS and FedEx all restart at the same time.
The Bottom Line
On Memorial Day 2026, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's and Publix stay open on standard hours. Costco, USPS, UPS, FedEx and banks are closed. ALDI and Sam's Club run modified holiday schedules. Plan ahead, shop on Sunday if possible, and remember that the day's main purpose is to honor U.S. service members who died in military service.
