The Fourth of July is today and consumers hoping to make a last-minute trip to the grocery store are in luck, as most grocery store chains will be open on the holiday.
This also includes Walmart, and most stores will be open during their regular hours on July 4, from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Customers are encouraged to check online to confirm hours of their nearest store.
However, banks and post offices will be closed on Saturday because Independence Day is a federal holiday, and the stock market will be closed on Friday, July 3, because the holiday falls on a Saturday this year.
The origins of the Fourth of July date back to July 4, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence.
However, annual observation of the holiday only became a regular occurrence after the War of 1812, when events such as groundbreaking ceremonies for the Erie Canal and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad were scheduled to coincide with Fourth of July celebrations, according to the Library of Congress. Congress passed a law making Independence Day a federal holiday on June 28, 1870.
Are other grocery stores open on July 4th?
Most grocery chains will be open on July 4, although some may have limited hours of operation.
Kroger said on its website that its stores will be open regular hours; However, pharmacy and clinic hours may vary. Other chains, such as Walmart, Publix, Food Lion, Whole Foods, and Meijer, traditionally stay open on the Fourth of July. Trader Joe’s said on its website that all stores will close at 5 p.m. local time on the holiday.
According to the company’s website, in reference to other wholesale clubs, Sam’s Club warehouses will open at 8 a.m. for Plus members and 9 a.m. for Club members and close at 8 p.m. BJ’s warehouses will be open July 4 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., the company said on its website.
Costco warehouses will be closed July 4, the company said on its website.
Gabe Howery is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reporting by Gabe Howery, USA TODAY/USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect.