As I put the turkey in the oven and take a breather, I realize I don't have any chicken broth for the gravy. The clock has already passed 11 AM. The first thought that comes to mind is, which stores are open right now?

If I rush to Publix out of habit, there's a good chance I'll be wasting my trip. Last year, Publix closed on Thanksgiving Day. Just thinking of the usual grocery stores can lead you into this trap.

So today, I've organized where to find open stores and what to do when to avoid ruining that morning. This year's Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26.

First, I need to be honest. In my search, I haven't been able to confirm the operating hours for major chains this year.

So the hours listed below are all from last year, specifically from Thanksgiving 2025. Use them as a reference to identify patterns, but please check the hours directly at the stores this year.

Let's start with the places that are closed. According to last year's Birmingham area list from local media Bham Now, Publix, Walmart, Target, Aldi, Sam's Club, Costco, and Trader Joe's were all listed as closed.

Good Morning America's national list from last year also identified the same six stores as closed, except for Publix. Since the local and national data align, this pattern seems quite solid.

At first glance, this is a bit surprising. It means that almost my entire usual grocery route is gone. However, considering that employees are spending the day with their families, I think this level of inconvenience is manageable.

So, where was open? Based on Bham Now, Whole Foods operated on reduced hours from 7 AM to 1 PM.

Sprouts had its Hoover and Birmingham locations open from 7 AM to 2 PM. The Fresh Market in Homewood was open from 7 AM to 3 PM, making it the latest of the three.

Piggly Wiggly only had some locations open on reduced hours, and the times varied by store. If there's one near your home, a quick phone call is the best bet.

Here's the key takeaway: stores with fresh produce closed between 1 PM and 3 PM. So, it's safest to consider 1 PM as your cutoff time.

If you run out of something in the afternoon, dollar stores are plan B. Last year's list showed Dollar Tree open from 8 AM to 9 PM, and Family Dollar from 8 AM to 6 PM. However, both may vary by location.

Dollar General was also listed as a place to buy urgent essentials, with hours varying by store. It's not a place for a big shopping trip, but more for picking up butter or broth.

If you have a Kroger nearby, it might be a bit confusing. Reports on last year's closing time varied. Good Morning America reported 4 PM, while Fox affiliates reported 5 PM.

For this, you have to use the store locator to check your specific location. According to Good Morning America, last year Kroger pharmacies were closed all day, so keep that in mind.

Speaking of pharmacies, one more thing: last year's national reports indicated that while many CVS locations were open as usual, pharmacy hours might be reduced or closed altogether.

Walgreens had 24-hour locations open, but the rest varied by store. It's best to finish any prescription refills the week before for peace of mind.

Ingredients for Korean dishes are another issue. The Bham Now list didn't include any Korean or Asian markets, so I couldn't confirm their hours for that day.

If you're serving galbi or japchae, make sure to gather ingredients like sweet potato noodles, sesame oil, and meat ahead of time. These aren't items you can easily find at a dollar store.

So, what should you do? If I were planning, I'd decide on the menu about a week in advance and jot down the ingredient list on my phone, considering that thawing a frozen turkey takes a few days, so I'd calculate that date as well.

On Monday or Tuesday, I'd take a final look. If I wait until Wednesday, popular items might be out of stock, so I'd finish up before then.

On Tuesday night, I'd read through the recipe from start to finish. I'd check off easy-to-forget items like broth, butter, heavy cream, foil, and roasting pans.

On Wednesday, I'd call two emergency stores. The hours shown on map apps might be incorrect, so it's best to hear directly from someone what time they'll be open the next day.

On the morning of Thanksgiving, I'd check the fridge again. Before turning on the oven, I'd do a quick inventory, and if anything is missing, I'd run out to get it right then.

Be cautious about relying solely on delivery apps. They ultimately pull from the inventory of open stores, so you should check which store is assigned to your address the day before.

However, if something is missing, knocking on your neighbor's door might surprisingly be the quickest solution. Borrowing a stick of butter to chat with a neighbor isn't a bad idea.

My preference is clear. I'll finish my big shopping by Tuesday and plan for emergency stops at Whole Foods or Sprouts in the morning and a dollar store later in the afternoon.

Again, this schedule is based on last year's records. This year may be different, so just remember to make that phone call on Wednesday. That one call will make Thursday morning much easier.