Target has confirmed that it will shut down all 1,978 of its stores for a full 24 hours during the Easter holiday. This closure, which will take place on Sunday, April 20, marks a significant step for the retailer. The store will be closed for the day in observance of Easter, a Christian holiday that marks the end of Lent.
A Growing Trend in Retail Closures
According to TheMirror, Target is far from alone in its decision to close on Easter. Other major retailers, including Costco, Aldi, Sam’s Club, and Publix, will also shut their doors for 24 hours. While these stores take a break for the holiday, Walmart will remain open, providing shoppers with an option for urgent grocery needs.
Shoppers accustomed to 24/7 access to stores will need to plan ahead if they wish to avoid running into issues with unavailable services. As Target will be closed, the company is encouraging customers to check the Target website or app for any store-specific information before heading out.
Retailers Shifting Their Strategies
The closure of stores during holidays like Easter is becoming a more common practice among brick-and-mortar retailers. Traditionally, major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas have seen similar shutdowns across various retail chains, but it appears that more retailers are opting for full closures on additional days as well.
For example, stores like JCPenney, Kohl’s, and Macy’s were all closed last Easter. While many stores are now prioritizing closures for their employees, some, like Walmart, continue to remain open, likely to cater to those with last-minute shopping needs.
Target’s announcement fits into this broader trend. As consumer shopping habits shift toward online platforms, some major physical retailers are choosing to close for holidays to reduce operating costs.
This decision is expected to reflect a broader industry-wide transformation that could see more stores reducing operating hours during certain periods.
The Retail Sector in Flux
Target’s closure is happening amid troubling forecasts for the retail sector. According to Coresight Research, approximately 15,000 retail stores are expected to close by 2025. This is almost double the number of closures seen in the previous year, marking a significant shift in the landscape of physical retail.
The retail industry, particularly stores that rely heavily on foot traffic, continues to face struggles due to changing consumer habits, the rise of e-commerce, and high commercial real estate costs.
Scott Y. Stuart, the CEO of the Turnaround Management Association, commented on the challenges faced by traditional retailers. He noted that:
“Retail has always been an area of high volatility where reorganizations, and restructurings are quite common,” and emphasized that the post-pandemic environment has added new pressures.
As he explained, factors like online shopping, work-from-home trends affecting urban center traffic, and changes in consumer behavior are all contributing to a difficult environment for brick-and-mortar stores.
