However, if you're looking to run to the grocery store for a last-second item, it's highly likely that your local shops could be closed on Thanksgiving Day. In Rhode Island, state law dictates whether certain businesses can legally be open on holidays like Thanksgiving.

If you’re cooking your Thanksgiving feast and realize you forgot a crucial ingredient – the turkey! – don’t panic. Some grocery stores are staying open on Thursday for just that reason, though most are adjusting hours and closing early for the holiday.

There used to be a trend where businesses would stay open on Thanksgiving to catch more sales, but that has fallen by the wayside since the COVID-19 pandemic. These stores would open on Thanksgiving Day to prepare for the crowds of Black Friday shoppers.