Minnesota residents looking to plan their Christmas Day activities will find that many businesses adjust their hours or close entirely on this holiday. Shoppers and diners should verify hours in advance since several major retailers and restaurants will not operate on Christmas.
Many large retail stores including Walmart, Target, Costco, and ALDI are closed on Christmas Day. Home improvement stores such as Home Depot, Lowe’s, and IKEA will also not be open to customers. Grocery chains including Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and Hy-Vee cease operations, so buying perishables or last-minute gifts may require planning before the holiday.
Businesses Closed on Christmas Day in Minnesota
- Walmart
- Target
- Costco
- Sam’s Club
- ALDI
- Home Depot
- IKEA
- Lowe’s
- Macy’s
- Trader Joe’s
- Whole Foods
- Hy-Vee
Restaurants also see widespread closures on Christmas. Popular fast-food and casual dining chains like Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, Panera Bread, Taco Bell, and Olive Garden will remain closed. Most independent restaurants also halt service to allow staff to observe the holiday.
Restaurants Not Operating on Christmas Day
- Chick-fil-A
- Chipotle
- Cracker Barrel
- Panera Bread
- Taco Bell
- KFC
- Jersey Mike’s
- Jimmy John’s
- Culver’s
- Olive Garden
- Outback Steakhouse
- Most non-chain restaurants
Mail and delivery services do not run on Christmas, with USPS post offices closed and no regular mail pickup or delivery. UPS suspends all standard package services, and FedEx stores and deliveries are unavailable. Garbage collection is delayed by one day across local municipalities.
Mail Service and Waste Collection
- USPS: No regular mail or open post offices
- UPS: No pickups or deliveries
- FedEx: Stores closed, no delivery
- Garbage: Collection delayed one day
Banks, government buildings, and liquor stores will also be closed on Christmas. Metro Transit operates on holiday schedules with limited service and no Northstar trains. Movie theaters generally remain open but may follow reduced or variable hours.
Businesses and Services Open on Christmas Day
Some pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS remain open but on modified schedules. Starbucks and McDonald’s locations are available but vary by site, so checking ahead is advised. Select restaurants such as IHOP, Golden Corral, Red Lobster, and specialty steakhouses including Fogo de Chão and Manny’s Steakhouse will welcome diners, often with reduced hours.
Examples of Open Locations
- Walgreens (pharmacy hours vary)
- CVS (modified hours)
- Starbucks (limited hours at select stores)
- McDonald’s (location-dependent hours)
- IHOP (varies by location)
- Golden Corral (reduced hours)
- Red Lobster (varies by location)
- Fogo de Chão (open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
- Manny’s Steakhouse
- 331 Club
- FireLake Grill House
- Buca di Beppo
- Breva Bar & Grill
- The Nicollet Diner
Emergency services including police remain operational throughout the holiday period. Residents are encouraged to plan grocery shopping and errands in advance due to the limited availability of retail and dining options on Christmas Day.
Read more at: kstp.com
