Grocery stores are ready for the hordes of Turkey Day shoppers. Credit: Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

The baking aisles at the grocery store are as packed as a Taylor Swift concert. Shoppers cluster around  the refrigerated meat section inspecting the turkeys for size and price while debating whether fresh or frozen is best. Yes, it’s that time of year again when we spruce up our homes, fill up our liquor cabinets and cook enough food to feed a high school wrestling team. Thanksgiving is just around the corner and for procrastinators, we have a list of grocery store holiday hours for last-minute cranberry sauce and that particular IPA your hipster cousin must have.

For realz? One holiday at a time, please. Credit: Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

Aldi: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Central Market: Thanksgiving Eve: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Costco: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

CVS: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Regular hours, though pharmacy hours may vary

Dollar General: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Fiesta Mart: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., though some stores may vary

Food Town: Thanksgiving Eve: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. / Thanksgiving Day: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

H-E-B has a bounty of peppers for holiday tamales. Please make some for us. Credit: Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

H-E-B: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: 6 a.m. to noon
                                          Curbside: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. / Home delivery: Closed / Pharmacy: Closed

H Mart: Thanksgiving Eve: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. / Thanksgiving Day: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Kroger: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Most stores open until 5 p.m.

A turkey for me and a turkey for you. And a Cajun turkey for your cousin Boudreaux. Credit: Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

Randalls: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Most stores open until 4 p.m.

Sam’s Club: Thanksgiving Eve: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Sprouts: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spec’s Liquor: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Target: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Total Wine: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Last call for pumpkins. Credit: Photo by Lorretta Ruggiero

Trader Joe’s: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Walgreens: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Regular hours, though stores may vary

Walmart: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: Closed

Whole Foods Market: Thanksgiving Eve: Regular hours / Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for most local stores

This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2023.

Lorretta Ruggiero is a Houston Press freelance writer based in Cypress, Texas. She loves entertaining her family and friends with her food and sparkling wit. She is married to Classic Rock Bob and they...