This Popular Grocery Chain Will Close On Thanksgiving for the First Time in History
Most of us don't plan on leaving our Thanksgiving shopping until Thanksgiving Day, but last-minute grocery store runs aren't all that unlikely when making such a laborious meal from scratch. To that end, it pays to know the grocery chains that you can count on come November 24. And this year, one popular brand is removing itself from this list.
For the first time in its century-long history, Hy-Vee, one of America's top five most trusted grocery chains, won't be open on Thanksgiving. All of the brand's 285 locations throughout the South and the Midwest will be closed on Turkey Day, giving its 93,000 employees an opportunity to kick back and relax with loved ones.
"Thanksgiving Day is about gratitude. The last several years have been some of the most challenging our employees have experienced and this is our way of showing our appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis to serve our customers," Jeremy Gosch, CEO and president of Hy-Vee, said in a statement. "By closing our stores on Thanksgiving Day, we can give back to our employees by providing them time to focus on their own celebrations."
The new Thanksgiving policy includes all of Hy-Vee grocery locations, Dollar Fresh Markets, Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh locations, Wall to Wall Wine and Spirits locations, Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits, and Hy-Vee corporate offices.
However, there are a few exceptions to the Thanksgiving shutdown. Customers will still be able to pay at the pump for fuel at all Hy-Vee Fast & Fresh locations. Also, anyone who buys a holiday meal pack can schedule a time to come pick up their order, either in-store prior to Thanksgiving Thursday or via curbside pickup from 8 to 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day at Hy-Vee grocery stores.
Hy-Vee certainly won't be alone in shutting its doors this Thanksgiving. Numerous major retailers, including Walmart, Target, Publix, and Costco, will also be closed. Supermarket chain Giant Eagle has also decided to shut down this Turkey Day for the second year in a row.
"After careful consideration and review of the positive support from guests who planned their Thanksgiving meal needs in advance last year, we have made the decision to close our supermarkets on Thanksgiving Day again this year," Giant Eagle Senior Director of Corporate Communications Dan Donovan said in a statement.
