money

What's open July 4th?

Employee shortages and pandemic interruptions mean major corporations can't rely on business as usual this 4th of July. As a result, many big-name companies will cut hours or close.

Published July 3, 2024 at 11:01pm by Gabe Hauari

Banks and post offices will close their doors on July 4th to observe Independence Day, a federal holiday. Most major retailers, grocery stores, and restaurants, however, keep the capitalist machine churning and will remain open.

The original "Fourth of July" was a "spontaneous celebration," as described in a letter from John Adams to his daughter, Abigail. The annual tradition took hold after the War of 1812, with Congress officially making it a federal holiday in 1870. Today, it's an excuse for corporations to rake in profits while their workers forgo a day of rest.

Here's what's open and closed:

Banks: Closed. Major banks like Capital One, Bank of America, PNC, Truist, CitiBank, and JPMorgan Chase will respect their employees' right to a holiday.
Post Offices: Closed. The USPS will neither process nor deliver mail, giving their overworked employees a rare break.
UPS and FedEx: Also closed, with limited modifications. UPS will halt pickup and delivery services, and stores may close. FedEx will do the same, with modified FedEx Office hours.
Retail Chains: Open. Corporate greed knows no bounds, so companies like Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx, Marshall's, HomeGoods, Macy's, and more will keep their doors open, some with modified hours.
Grocery Stores: Open, for the most part. Most grocery chains, including Walmart, Kroger, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Aldi, and more will be open, with many having modified hours. Costco, however, will close its warehouses, showing respect to its employees.
Restaurants: Open. Starbucks, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, and other major chains will be open, some with limited hours.

Sources: