Walmart Will Close All Arizona Stores for 24 Hours-Here’s Why

If you're doing some last-minute shopping around Thanksgiving this year, do it early. If you forget something, you won't be able to run to this store to grab it.

For the fifth year in a row, Walmart plans to close all its Arizona locations on the last Thursday in November, which, of course, is Thanksgiving Day.

The tradition began in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Closing its stores in the hours before the holiday was a significant change for Walmart, which, until that year, stayed open over Thanksgiving to kick off its Black Friday sales.

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Walmart: Shifting Perspectives

Working retail in Arizona—or anywhere, really—is tough enough. Spending the day in the trenches while friends and family celebrate a national holiday without you is terrible and not good for your mental health.

READ: Walmart Self Checkouts Overcharged Arizona Shoppers

Walmart's shift allows its employees a day to gather with friends and family, prioritizing staff well-being over holiday sales. This is becoming a pleasant and growing trend among retailers. It's good for company morale and good optics for its brand.

Online Ordering Takes the Stage in Arizona

What Walmart isn't saying is that the shift to online shopping is less expensive and time-intensive for shoppers and brick-and-mortar stores. 

If you still need to scratch that holiday shopping itch as you melt into your post-prandial stupor dual-screening with the football game playing in the background, Walmart still has you covered.

If you forget the fried onions to top your green bean casserole, you'll have to shop elsewhere because Arizona Walmarts will be closed on Thanksgiving.

READ: Why doesn't Walmart Accept Google Pay or Apple Pay

Walmart stores in Arizona will close at 11:00 pm on Wednesday evening prior to Thanksgiving Day and re-open at 6:00 am on Friday.

Sources: International Business Times | El Adelantado | Walmart.com