Juneteenth 2025: Walmart, Starbucks Declare 'We're Open!'

Juneteenth 2025: Walmart, Starbucks Declare 'We're Open!'

3 minute read
Published: 6/19/2025

On Juneteenth, June 19, 2025, major banks and stock markets will take a breather while fast food and retail giants like Walmart and Target keep the fries and the shopping carts rolling.

As the nation honors Juneteenth, a momentous day recognizing the end of slavery, financial institutions like Wells Fargo and major stock markets will be catching some Z's, while retailers and fast food chains will be dishing out freedom fries and retail therapy. The irony isn’t lost here: as we celebrate liberation from oppression, grocery carts will roll freely, reminding us that even on a day of reflection, America’s appetite for consumerism remains insatiable—and perhaps that's one freedom we can all agree on.

Juneteenth, federally recognized since 2021, is a day that combines solemn reflection with the exhilarating rush of retail therapy. While certain banks, including Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase, will be closed, many retail stores, including Walmart and Target, will remain open. It's a balancing act of motivations that perhaps only Americans could truly master.

But fear not, for even as financial titans take leave, the retail world will soldier on with resolute aplomb. Walmart, Costco, Target, and Home Depot are all keeping their doors wide open. One can only imagine the boardroom discussions at Walmart: 'Do you think shoppers will flock to us, or will they be too busy considering the depths of their existential dread?' Ultimately, the resolve to provide retail therapy seems to have triumphed over introspection.

Restaurants won't be shuttering either. Fast food chains such as McDonald's and Burger King will serve up their special brand of sustenance, a reminder that the quest for quick gratification in the form of greasy burgers knows no holiday. Nothing says 'I honor the legacy of freedom' quite like a double quarter pounder with extra fries; a true testament to the American ability to consume without thought.

For those looking to stock their pantries, grocery stores will be open, making sure you can still pick up that one snack you absolutely need for a peaceful night at home or to fend off that existential dread that comes with reflecting on history. CVS will also be in operation, albeit with some locations potentially featuring reduced hours which, let's be honest, mainly serves as an excuse to tell customers that nobody wants to work that holiday shift.

As for the post office, it requires our attention as a curious case. Closed for retail transactions, yet UPS and FedEx will operate normally, possibly out of a sense of 'hey, someone has to deliver packages on this day of contemplation.' It does beg the wider question of how much contemplation is taking place at 11 PM when the pizza delivery guy shows up, but that’s perhaps a topic for another article.

Meanwhile, amidst the swirling celebration and sales, it’s vital to remember Juneteenth’s substantive meaning. This day commemorates the resilience of those who fought for freedom, making the decisions of stores opening or closing a peculiar commentary on the contrast between recognition and commerce. As shoppers juggle their IKEA furniture purchases with thoughts of history, we find ourselves again caught in that marvelous American paradox. Freedom has never tasted so sweet, or so salty.

With federal recognition of Juneteenth now part of America's tapestry, the fascinating interplay between solemnity and commercial hustle continues to thrive. It's almost heartwarming to see so many eager participants ready to spend a day celebrating freedom by spending their hard-earned cash—perhaps heralding a new holiday tradition. All hail the freedom to shop! In the grand theater of life, that takes on a rather important role, doesn't it?

And as we raise our fast food fries high to commemorate the day, take a moment to ponder: will we ever reconcile our need for reflection with our relentless pursuit of consumerism? Certainly food for thought—and also for lunch. So whether you are stocking up on burgers or blooms, remember, the essence of Juneteenth is in understanding our collective history. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must find a drive-thru that respects both my history and my hunger.