Memphis, Tenn., December 30, 2025 — With the New Year right around the corner, residents in the Memphis area are planning celebrations, recovery breakfasts, or simply stocking up post-holiday essentials.
While New Year’s Day (Wednesday, Jan. 1) traditionally marks a quiet holiday — with many businesses closed — grocery stores in and around Memphis will still be open to serve customers seeking food, beverages, or last-minute party cleanup items.
In this article, we provide details on which stores are opening, special hours to expect, tips for holiday shopping traffic, how local employees feel about holiday schedules, and the broader trend of grocery retailers expanding holiday service for customer convenience.
Why Grocery Stores Stay Open on New Year’s Day
Unlike some holidays where nearly all retail shuts down (such as Christmas Day), many grocery chains choose to remain open on New Year’s Day. There are a few reasons for this:
- High demand for groceries after holiday parties, cleanup items like beverages, bread, snacks, and cleaning supplies.
- Customers hosting late-night or early-morning celebrations who need fresh items, coffee, juice, eggs, or sandwich fixings.
- Competitive retail strategy, as grocers seek sales volume during peak season.
- Employee availability, as some staff prefer working holidays for extra pay incentives.
Across the U.S., it has become increasingly common for major grocers to operate on New Year’s Day — often with reduced hours — to meet community needs while balancing employee rest time.
Memphis: Stores You Can Visit on New Year’s Day
Here’s a detailed look at grocery stores in Memphis and surrounding suburbs expected to be open on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2026. Note that hours may vary by location, and shoppers are advised to check with individual stores before visiting:
1. Kroger
- Most Kroger locations in Memphis and Shelby County are expected to be open on New Year’s Day.
- Typical holiday hours run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., though some stores may open as early as 7 a.m. and close closer to 10 p.m..
- Kroger’s pharmacy departments may operate on slightly shorter holiday hours, so prescription pickup or refills should be confirmed ahead of time.
Customers frequently report that Kroger keeps a steady flow of shoppers all day on New Year’s, especially in the late morning and mid-afternoon, as families rest after New Year’s Eve celebrations and head out for breakfast or lunch supplies.
2. Walmart Supercenters
- Walmart’s grocery sections at Supercenters around Memphis (such as in East Memphis, South Memphis, and Germantown) are typically open on New Year’s Day.
- Most stores adopt regular or slightly reduced hours — often 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. — depending on local store policy.
Walmart is a commonly chosen option for customers who want one-stop shopping: groceries, liquor, household supplies, small appliances, and party leftovers cleanup supplies. Pharmacists warn that pharmacy hours may be limited or closed, so prescription services should be checked in advance.
3. ALDI
- Many ALDI stores in the Greater Memphis area will also be open, though ALDI is known for slightly shorter holiday hours compared with other supermarkets.
- Expect hours around 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on New Year’s Day, though this can vary by neighborhood.
Shoppers who rely on ALDI’s low-cost groceries should make a plan early in the afternoon if they prefer fewer crowds and quicker checkout lines.
4. Sam’s Club and Costco
- Sam’s Club (Poplar Avenue, Eads, and surrounding warehouses) and Costco Wholesale (Germantown, Collierville area) often remain open on New Year’s Day with adjusted hours, such as 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Members should confirm whether optical and pharmacy services are available, as these departments may close early or remain closed for the holiday.
Bulk shoppers and families replenishing large amounts of snacks, drinks, and party platters often plan early in the day to avoid peak crowds.
5. Specialty and Local Markets
Some local specialty grocers — such as The Fresh Market or Small independent markets in neighborhoods like Cooper-Young, Midtown, and East Memphis — may choose to close on New Year’s Day or operate with reduced hours. Customers looking for specialty items like artisan breads, imported cheeses, or unique pastries should call ahead.
Locally owned stores sometimes publish holiday hours on social media or on building signage, and those posts typically go up a week before Jan. 1.
What You Can Expect: Holiday Shopping Trends in Memphis
Holiday grocery traffic follows recognizable patterns:
Morning and Early Afternoon Rush
- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. tends to be the busiest window, as families rest after New Year’s Eve and prepare for brunch or leftover meal planning.
- Expect lines at deli counters and floral departments (for fresh arrangements) during these hours.
Mid-Afternoon Calm
- A slightly quieter period typically lasts from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., which can be the best time to shop for customers who dislike crowds.
Early Evening Pickup
- Between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., shoppers often return for last-minute dinner ingredients or a quick run before stores close.
Grocery store managers often prepare for these influxes by scheduling additional staff during peak windows and setting up more checkout lanes to handle heavy cart traffic.
Tips for New Year’s Day Grocery Shoppers
If you’re heading out to stock up on Wednesday, here are some practical tips:
1. Call Ahead for Hours
Holiday hours can vary by store location. It’s always wise to call the individual store number or check its website or public Google listing before you go.
2. Check Pharmacy and Service Departments
Even if the main grocery floor is open, pharmacy, bakery, floral, and deli counters may close early or remain shut all day — especially on New Year’s Day. Confirm availability before you head out.
3. Avoid Peak Hours
If possible, plan your trip around the mid-afternoon lull to avoid long checkout lines.
4. Bring Reusable Bags
Tennessee allows grocery stores to charge for bags. Bringing your own helps speed checkouts and reduces packaging waste.
5. Plan Meals Ahead
Trying to shop for both breakfast and dinner on a holiday day can turn into two trips. Make a quick list before you go so you get everything in one run.
6. Expect Crowd Peaks Around Lunch Time
If you want to avoid lines in the deli or hot-food bars, avoid the 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. timeframe when many shoppers crave quick meals.
Retail analysts note that grocery shopping behavior on New Year’s Day increasingly resembles that on Thanksgiving Eve or Christmas Eve — shorter peak windows but consistently steady foot traffic throughout the day.
Employee Perspectives: Working a Holiday
Working on New Year’s Day can be a mixed experience for grocery store employees. Some workers appreciate:
- Holiday pay differentials, which often include higher hourly rates or time-and-a-half wages.
- Flexible scheduling trade-offs, where they can take another day off in exchange for working a holiday.
Other employees prefer to work because they live close by, prefer daytime shifts, or enjoy the predictable, steady pace of grocery traffic compared with chaotic holiday crowds.
Still, some staff find holidays challenging due to:
- Family or social commitments they miss while working.
- Unexpected traffic patterns around lunch and early evening requiring more checkout lanes open.
Store managers often try to support workers by giving advance notice of holiday shifts and allowing volunteers to trade shifts where possible.
Safety, Transportation, and Weather Considerations
Memphis in early January can vary in temperature, but cold weather and occasional winter precipitation can impact grocery store foot traffic and driving conditions. While the forecast around New Year’s Day typically calls for mild temperatures compared with northern states, occasional chilly mornings and nighttime lows still influence travel times.
Drivers should:
- Check local traffic reports before heading out.
- Allow extra time for parking lot navigation if stores are crowded.
- Make sure vehicles have sufficient gas — especially if heading to multiple stores — as holiday travel often spikes.
Community Impact and Local Businesses
For many Memphis residents, grocery stores functioning on New Year’s Day are more than just retail outlets:
- They serve as hubs for community connectivity, especially for older adults who rely on local groceries for social contact.
- For families with children, open stores mean easier access to snacks, fresh produce, or emergency supplies.
- Local businesses surrounding grocery stores — such as coffee shops, pharmacies, and gas stations — often see correlated traffic, boosting local commerce on a day that otherwise would be quiet.
Some smaller shops even partner informally with grocery traffic patterns — for example, a shuttered bakery might open for a few hours to capture foot traffic from a nearby store’s breakfast crowd.
Holiday Retail Trends: A Broader Look
The trend of grocery retailers remaining open on New Year’s Day reflects broader shifts in:
- Consumer expectations: Shoppers increasingly expect access to essentials any day of the year.
- Retail competition: Stores that stay open capture traffic that would otherwise go to convenience stores or online delivery services.
- Service culture: Modern retail places a premium on accessibility — even on traditionally “off” days.
This stands in contrast to decades ago when nearly all retail would close for extended holidays. Today, grocery stores balance customer service with respect for their workforce, resulting in hybrid holiday schedules that provide access while respecting internal policies.
Looking Ahead: January and Beyond
As the new year begins, Memphis grocery shoppers can expect:
- Regular store hours to resume by Jan. 2, with pharmacies, delis, and specialty departments back to full operation.
- Early January promotions on clearance holiday items, bakery discounts, and seasonal produce sales.
- Increased emphasis on health and wellness aisles as many customers begin resolutions for healthier eating and lifestyle changes.
Retail analysts also note that early January often sees an uptick in meal kit sales, produce bundles, and dietary supplements as consumers settle into weekly routines after holiday travel and festivities.
Conclusion
If you’re planning to shop on New Year’s Day in Memphis, rest assured that major grocery stores like Kroger, Walmart Supercenters, ALDI, Sam’s Club, Costco, and several local markets will be open and ready to serve. While holiday hours may differ from regular schedules, planning ahead — checking hours, avoiding peak windows, and knowing where to find what you need — can turn a potentially hectic trip into a quick, efficient stop.
For locals, these open grocery stores represent convenience, community support, and a bridge between holiday celebration and everyday life — welcoming the new year with access to essentials and familiar faces in the aisles.
Pet trainer with a passion for helping animals and owners build strong, loving bonds through positive reinforcement and expert care.
