Walmart makes tough decision consumers won't like

23 Dec 2025, 17:13 · The Fresno Bee

Many of us are lucky enough to have that one friend we can rely on for just about anything. Whether it's a ride to the airport, a listening ear, or emergency babysitting, that friend makes themself available.

For many consumers, Walmart is sort of like that friend.

When you need groceries in a pinch, Walmart is there for you. When your kid needs a special outfit for a school dress-up day, or you're suddenly out of dog treats because that same kid has been feeding them extras behind your back, Walmart can come to the rescue.

Most Walmart stores open at 6 in the morning and close at 11 p.m. Those hours even extend to weekends in some areas.

So unless you have a 2 a.m. craving for Twinkies (which, let's face it, has happened to the best of us), you can generally depend on Walmart to be open.

Shoppers have come to depend on Walmart's long hours of operation.

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Walmart rarely closes stores

Many retailers close their doors to customers multiple times during the year for holidays such as Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Costco, for example, closes to members seven times during the year to give employees time off to spend major holidays with their families.

Walmart, on the other hand, only closes its doors to shoppers two times a year - Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

But if you're counting on Walmart for your last-minute holiday shopping needs, you'll need to make sure you tackle them no later than Christmas Eve.

Of course, Walmart isn't the only major retailer closing for Christmas. Other stores that won't be open include:

Costco
Target
Best Buy
Trader Joe's
Home Depot

In fact, you should expect many major retail chains to be closed on Christmas. You may find some supermarkets open, as well as some convenience stores. But for the most part, it's a day when the retail world takes a much-needed break.

Christmas Day closures are a strategic move for Walmart

If there's any store that might truly benefit from being open on Christmas, it's Walmart. Whether it's last-minute gifts or emergency food purchases for extra holiday guests, the company could probably bring in a lot of money just by staying open with limited shopping hours.

But a big reason Walmart opts to close on Christmas Day boils down to employee morale.

More retail:

When workers are happy, it tends to lead to a more positive customer experience. That's what Walmart wants. So it's willing to forgo a day of profits during the year if it means ensuring that workers are content.

In addition to closing completely on Christmas Day, most Walmart stores will close early on Christmas Eve. So if you're hoping to do some frantic pre-holiday shopping, make sure to look up store hours near you ahead of time.

The good news is that most Walmart locations should open at their usual time on Christmas Eve, giving you plenty of opportunity to tackle your last-minute needs.

TheStreet

This story was originally published December 23, 2025 at 9:13 AM.