Labor Day: Store Hours and Historical Significance
Most Walmart stores will operate on Labor Day; Costco will close. The holiday, celebrating American workers' achievements, began in 1882 and became a national holiday in 1894.
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Overview
- Most Walmart stores nationwide will operate on Labor Day, maintaining hours from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time, allowing customers to shop during the holiday.
- Conversely, Costco will be closed on Labor Day, adhering to its holiday calendar, while many other national restaurant chains and grocery stores are expected to remain open.
- Labor Day, observed on the first Monday of September, celebrates the significant social and economic achievements of American workers, honoring their contributions to the nation.
- The inaugural Labor Day celebration took place on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, marking the beginning of this important annual observance.
- President Grover Cleveland officially established Labor Day as a national holiday on June 28, 1894, ensuring its annual recognition across the United States.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this story neutrally, focusing on providing practical information without editorial bias. The article directly answers common questions about business operations on Labor Day, using a clear, list-based format. It avoids loaded language or selective emphasis, ensuring readers receive straightforward, factual details for planning their holiday.
"Fortunately, most home-improvement stores are open that day—and usually have some pretty good sales going on."
Fortune"Most retailers, grocery chains and other businesses will remain open."
CBS News"If you need to make a quick, last-minute trip to the store to pick up something on Labor Day, Walmart will be an option for you this year, as the company said all Walmart stores will be open."
USA TODAY"Target will be an option for you this year, as the company said its stores will be open."
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FAQ
Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September in the U.S. as a less radical alternative to May 1st, which commemorates the Haymarket Affair and is associated with socialist and communist movements. President Grover Cleveland supported the September date to avoid the political connotations of May Day. International Workers' Day on May 1 is still celebrated worldwide but has not gained mainstream popularity in the U.S.
The first Labor Day celebration took place on September 5, 1882, in New York City, when about 10,000 workers took unpaid time off to march from City Hall to Union Square, demonstrating labor solidarity and organizing a parade under the sponsorship of the Knights of Labor.
Labor Day was officially established as a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed a bill into law following widespread state celebrations and labor unrest, ensuring annual national recognition of the holiday.
Most Walmart stores nationwide remain open on Labor Day, operating from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time, while Costco closes for the holiday. Many national restaurant chains and grocery stores also tend to remain open during Labor Day.
History
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