What's Open/Closed on Labor Day 2021? Plan Accordingly

Labor Day is on the horizon. In 2021, the holiday falls on Monday, September 6. Many people will get a chance to enjoy a three-day weekend to commemorate the unofficial end of summer. They might celebrate with family and friends, spending quality time together. However, others may take advantage of the time off to do some shopping and run errands. If you’re hoping to get some stuff done, you may be wondering, “What’s open or closed on Labor Day 2021?” Luckily, the answer to that is at hand. If you want to make sure that where you want to go is open, here is what you need to know.

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Retail Stores

By and large, retail stores open on Labor Day. Some even hold massive sales to attract shoppers and celebrate the event, making it a great time to score some bargains. Summer seasonal items are often on discount this time of year. Plus, you might get some exceptional prices on back-to-school items and clothing that’s transitioning out of season.

Here is a list of just some of the retail stores that are usually open on Labor Day:

Academy Sports
Bass Pro Shops
Bed Bath & Beyond
Belk
Big Lots
Burlington
Cabela’s
Dillard’s
Dollar Tree
Family Dollar
Fred Meyer
Gap
Hobby Lobby
Home Depot
Ikea
Crew
C. Penney
Joann
Kmart
Kohl’s
Lowe’s
Macy’s
Michaels
Nordstrom
Office Depot / Office Max
Old Navy
PetSmart
Sam’s Club
Sears
Staples
J. Maxx
Target
Ulta
Walmart

There is one very big exception when it comes to stores opening on September 6; Costco closes for Labor Day. If you want to shop at Costco, you’ll need to do it before or after the holiday Monday.

Grocery Stores

Like major retailers, most grocery store chains welcome customers on Labor Day. Plus, many will hold Labor Day sales, often featuring discounts on items you need for end-of-season barbecues.

Some of the grocery stores that will open on Labor Day include:

Aldi
Fred Meyer
Giant Eagle
Kroger
Public
Safeway
Trader Joe’s
Whole Foods

In some cases, stores may be operating on reduced holiday hours. If you want to shop late on Labor Day, check with your preferred store in advance to confirm that they are open.

Drug Stores

Typically, major chain drug stores open on Labor Day, including:

CVS
Rite Aid
Walgreens

However, they may be using holiday hours, or the pharmacy counter may not be available. If you want to pick up a prescription on Labor Day, you may want to check in advance to confirm that is an option.

Gas Stations

Most gas stations close on very few holidays, and Labor Day isn’t usually one of them. Labor Day can actually have quite a bit of traffic, so keeping convenience stores and service stations running is often good business.

However, it’s important to note that the Costco gas station may not be staffed on Labor Day. Costco employees broadly get the day off. While you can pay at the pump for fuel, you may not be able to get drinks or snacks – or buy gas with cash – since an attendant might not be available.

Restaurants

Generally, chain restaurants are open on Labor Day. In some cases, they may use holiday schedules. However, that would be pretty rare.

Smaller, independent restaurants may or may not open, depending on their preference. If you want to head to an independent restaurant, you may want to call ahead to confirm that they are seating diners.

Stock Exchange and Bond Market

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, and SIFMA all consider Labor Day a holiday and choose to close for the day. However, since the holiday isn’t recognized outside of the United States, international stock markets are usually open.

Banks and Credit Unions

Banks and credit unions usually close on federal holidays, including Labor Day. While some branches of specific institutions may buck that trend, it’s far more common for tellers and live phone customer service reps to be unavailable for the holiday.

However, you can still complete any non-teller-assisted transactions at ATMs and online. As a result, you may be able to deposit checks, initiate transfers, and take similar actions. Just be aware that the transaction may not begin to process until the next business day due to the holiday.

Post Office

Since the post office is a federal government agency, it is not open on Labor Day. While you can check mailboxes in unsecured areas, put envelopes in outgoing mail slots, and use self-service kiosks for postage, any service that requires a staff member won’t be available.

Garbage Collection

Whether your garbage services run on holidays varies greatly from one area to the next. If your usual pickup day is Monday, you want to confirm whether that pickup will occur on Labor Day with your provider.

The same goes with local dumps. Some may open while others won’t. If you want to take items to your nearest dump on Labor Day, check that they are open before you head out of the door.

Schools

If your school district is already holding classes, they will usually close on Labor Day. Both public and private schools tend to recognize federal holidays with closures.

For boarding schools and dorms in colleges that are in session before Labor Day, while classes won’t be running, access to certain services may be available, such as cafeterias. However, they may have reduced hours, so students need to confirm when they can arrive in advance.

Do you plan on doing any shopping or running errands this Labor Day? Are you worried that the places you want to go won’t be open? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Tamila McDonald

Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.

What’s Open/Closed on Labor Day 2021?