The retail world is about to take an unexpected breather as HomeGoods gears up for a one-day, 24-hour shutdown across thousands of its stores. Approved by the company’s parent group, the move marks a rare, unified decision that will momentarily change how people shop. For just one day, aisles will stay quiet and doors closed, signaling a thoughtful pause that’s set to reshape shopping rhythms before everything comes roaring back the next day. While the details of this plan remain closely aligned across all associated banners, the brief closure signals a strategic shift designed to balance operations, timing, and customer expectations just before the busiest shopping weekend of the year.
Why HomeGoods and its sister brands will pause for a day
TJX is set to close 3,729 stores this Thanksgiving, including popular names like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Sierra, and Homesense. Company leaders describe the decision as “associate-friendly,” emphasizing their commitment to giving employees a well-deserved break and time with family before the busy holiday rush begins. Shoppers should expect doors locked for a single day, then normal service with holiday energy.
All 952 HomeGoods stores will pause. TJ Maxx will close 1,340 stores, Sierra 127, and Homesense 76. Marshalls is closing its doors that day too. A company rep confirmed to The U.S. Sun that all locations will be shut on Thursday, November 28, then reopen the next day on Friday. The plan mirrors recent years and avoids Thanksgiving night chaos.
The day off resets the calendar while preserving Black Friday demand. Crowds concentrate on Friday, so inventory drops begin on a clean slate. Teams arrive rested, which helps service, recovery, and line flow. For shoppers, it’s pretty straightforward: plan to shop Wednesday or Friday, just not Thursday. For staff, it is a protected family day.
Schedules, hours, and what happens the morning after
Stores will shut for just 24 hours before reopening with longer Black Friday hours. They’ll be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., giving you plenty of time to search for deals. After that, regular hours return, and things get back to normal.
For HomeGoods, the sequence is straightforward. Doors close Thursday, then open Friday for long hours, while pricing sharpens because of competition. Associates reset aisles, stock seasonal decor, and stage endcaps to speed choices. Shoppers who scout online the night before can hit targets quickly once doors open.
The company stresses an associate-first culture, and the schedule fits that stance. A single dark day eases logistics and reduces staffing stress. Friday’s early start then captures pent-up demand without night-shift fatigue. The rhythm also limits confusion, since one rule applies to all banners, and messaging stays the same nationwide.
The wider trend: other national chains now choose quiet over chaos
Other retailers are following suit. Hobby Lobby is closing all 1,000 stores on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They’re open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and always closed on Sundays. Christmas Eve keeps the usual 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. schedule, and Boxing Day follows regular hours too.
Best Buy is closing all 1,000 stores on Thanksgiving as well. It’s part of a bigger trend that began in 2020, when chains stopped opening on Thanksgiving night and moved everything to Friday instead. It makes scheduling easier and gives employees time with their families, while shoppers can still snag great deals the next day.
The source list of Thanksgiving closures is long. JCPenney, Costco, and Kohl’s will close. So will Aldi, American Girl, At Home, Barnes & Noble, and Belk. Best Buy, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Burlington Coat Factory will also close. The Home Depot and HomeGoods join that list, along with Ikea, Lidl, and Lowe’s.
Marshall’s and Mattress Firm will close. Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack will do the same. Paragon Sports and Patagonia will close as well. P.C. Richard & Son, Petco, and PetSmart will shut. REI and Sam’s Club will close. Sephora and Simply Mac will shut, as will Spring Mobile and Staples.
Sur La Table and Target will close. Think Geek and TJ Maxx will shut. Trader Joe’s and Ulta will close. Walmart will also shut for the day. The pattern is clear, since major national chains now prioritize a clean break. Shoppers can plan around Friday, when the biggest hours return.
What the one-day pause means for planning, prices, and store flow
For shoppers, the plan reduces noise. You avoid Thanksgiving night queues, while Friday offers longer hours and sharper assortments. Store teams can reset endcaps and gift zones, so traffic moves better. Because demand concentrates, doorbusters land at once, and availability is easier to read. That helps decision-making in crowded aisles.
For operations, the pause tightens forecasting. Freight, staffing, and recovery align to Friday morning, which cuts overtime waste. Teams re-ticket and zone displays while closed, so markdowns hit right away. The result is fewer partial sets, cleaner racks, and faster checkout lanes. Store managers can schedule breaks and backups with fewer surprises.
For pricing, Black Friday still sets the tone. Promotions pull forward demand, and clarity increases because deals start together. Stock counts update faster because teams launch with complete sets. If you map your route and check store pages on Wednesday night, you reach targets quickly on Friday morning, which saves time and stress.
Where HomeGoods fits inside the TJX holiday game plan
HomeGoods specializes in seasonal decor, kitchenware, and home gifts, so Friday’s extended hours matter. Selection refreshes right after the pause, while aisles highlight holidays, storage, and quick-gift ideas. Because the chain thrives on treasure-hunt value, early shoppers see deeper carts, and late shoppers still find rotation as pallets move out.
TJ Maxx contributes fashion, footwear, and accessories, and all 1,340 stores will close for the holiday. Sierra adds active and outdoor gear, with 127 stores dark for the day. Homesense includes furniture and decor, with 76 locations pausing as well. Marshalls follows the same script, which keeps messaging consistent across banners.
For families mapping stops, cluster stores near one center to save time. Compare doorbuster windows, then sequence by must-have items. Use gift lists to cut backtracking, because Friday crowds will build. If an item sells out, check sister banners for substitutes. The TJX network often carries parallel choices at similar value points.
How the day of quiet sets up a stronger Friday and calmer season ahead
A planned pause brings order to peak week, while shoppers still enjoy long Friday hours and sharp pricing. Teams arrive rested, and product hits the floor in full sets, which speeds decisions. Because HomeGoods and other TJX banners move in sync, the experience feels clearer, faster, and friendlier across the board.