Memphis Grocery Hours on Thanksgiving 2025: ALDI Closed, Cash Saver Opens Early
Nov, 27 2025
On Thanksgiving Day 2025, Memphis residents planning their holiday meals faced a clear choice: ALDI would be shuttered across the board, while select Cash Saver locations would open early — but with incomplete hours at one key spot. The Commercial Appeal, Memphis’s longtime daily newspaper, published its annual holiday shopping guide on November 25, 2025, giving families just two days to plan last-minute grocery runs. For many, this wasn’t just convenience — it was necessity. With over 633,000 people in the metro area relying on local stores for turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce, every hour counted.
ALDI All Closed — No Exceptions
Every single ALDI store in the Memphis area, from East Memphis to Southaven, remained closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025. No exceptions. No early openings. No late-night pickups. The German discount grocer, known for its no-frills model and low prices, has maintained this policy for years — and 2025 was no different. While some national chains like Kroger or Walmart offered limited hours, ALDI stuck to its stance: Thanksgiving is a day off for employees. That decision, while unpopular with some shoppers, reflects a growing trend among retailers prioritizing staff well-being over holiday sales. For families who counted on ALDI for bulk dairy or pantry staples, this meant planning ahead — or scrambling.Cash Saver’s Patchwork Schedule
The real story, though, was Cash Saver. The regional chain, quietly serving the Mid-South for decades, offered two locations with staggered hours — but only one had full details. The store at 1977 S. Third St. in Memphis opened at 7 a.m. and closed at 3 p.m. Central Time. That’s an 8-hour window — enough to grab the essentials, pick up a pie, and still make it home in time for the pre-dinner nap. The other, at 4049 Elvis Presley Blvd., opened at 6 a.m. — earlier than most local churches. But here’s the twist: the closing time was cut off mid-sentence in the article. Just "6..." — and then an ellipsis. No end time. No clarification. No follow-up update. That’s not a typo. That’s a gap. And for residents living near the intersection of Elvis Presley and Poplar, it meant uncertainty. Did it close at 2 p.m.? 6 p.m.? Midnight? The article didn’t say. And that’s the problem with hyper-local reporting: sometimes, the data gets lost in the upload.Why This Matters More Than You Think
This isn’t just about turkey. It’s about dignity. For single parents working two jobs, for elderly residents without cars, for families stretching every dollar — Thanksgiving grocery access is survival. Memphis has one of the highest food insecurity rates in the country. When a major chain like ALDI closes, it hits low-income neighborhoods hardest. The Cash Saver on Third Street? It’s a block from a public housing complex. The one on Elvis Presley? Near a senior center. These aren’t random locations. They’re lifelines. And yet, the lack of complete information — especially for the Elvis Presley location — forces residents to make phone calls on a holiday. To wait in line for customer service. To risk showing up at 4 p.m. only to find the doors locked. That’s not just inconvenient. It’s exhausting.What’s Missing — And What Could Be Next
The Commercial Appeal didn’t mention Kroger, Walmart, Target, or Publix. No hours. No notes. No context. That’s a missed opportunity. For a city this size, a comprehensive guide should include the big players — especially since many of them stayed open with reduced hours. Why focus only on two? Was it space? Time? Editorial bias? The paper didn’t say. Looking ahead, this could be a turning point. What if local news outlets partnered with store chains to build real-time digital maps? Imagine an interactive map showing live store status — open, closed, or running low on turkey — updated by employees on the ground. That’s not sci-fi. It’s doable. And in 2025, it’s necessary.Background: Thanksgiving and Grocery Culture in Memphis
Thanksgiving has always been a big deal in the Mid-South. Fried turkey. Sweet potato casserole. Pecan pie. And yes — last-minute shopping. Memphis, with its deep roots in Southern food traditions, doesn’t just celebrate Thanksgiving. It *lives* it. That’s why local papers like the Commercial Appeal have spent decades publishing these guides. But the world’s changed. More people are cooking at home. More are ordering online. More are skipping the big meal entirely. Still, for many, the grocery run remains sacred. The Commercial Appeal’s report, while sparse, is part of a long tradition. It’s not glamorous. It’s not investigative. But it’s vital. And in a media landscape where local news is shrinking, this kind of practical, community-focused reporting is more important than ever.What’s Next?
For now, residents must verify hours themselves. Call the Cash Saver at 4049 Elvis Presley Blvd. before heading out. Check the store’s Facebook page — many small chains post updates there. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find a neighbor who went yesterday and can tell you if the cranberry sauce is still in stock. As for next year? Expect more pressure on chains to release full, transparent hours. And maybe — just maybe — the Commercial Appeal will expand its guide. Because in Memphis, Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday. It’s a community ritual. And everyone deserves to be fed.Frequently Asked Questions
Which Memphis grocery stores were definitely closed on Thanksgiving 2025?
All ALDI locations in the Memphis area were closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2025. This included every store across Shelby County. No exceptions were made, and no hours were listed for any location. Residents who relied on ALDI for budget-friendly staples like dairy, bread, or frozen vegetables had to plan ahead or turn to other retailers.
Why wasn’t the closing time listed for the Cash Saver on Elvis Presley Blvd.?
The Commercial Appeal’s article truncated the closing time for the Cash Saver at 4049 Elvis Presley Blvd. due to a data error or incomplete source input. The opening time was confirmed as 6 a.m., but the end time was cut off mid-sentence. This forced shoppers to call the store directly — a hurdle on a holiday when many employees are off. The paper did not issue a correction or update.
How did the Thanksgiving hours impact low-income residents in Memphis?
With nearly 20% of Memphis residents living below the poverty line, the closure of ALDI — a key source of affordable groceries — created real hardship. The Cash Saver on Third Street, open until 3 p.m., became a critical resource for families without cars or time off. But the uncertainty around the Elvis Presley location added stress. Many residents had to choose between wasting gas driving to unconfirmed hours or skipping essential items.
Were other major chains like Kroger or Walmart mentioned in the report?
No. The Commercial Appeal’s report focused solely on ALDI and Cash Saver, omitting major chains like Kroger, Walmart, and Target, which typically operate on reduced hours during holidays. This limited scope left many shoppers without full context. While the paper may have prioritized smaller local stores, the omission made the guide feel incomplete for a city of Memphis’s size.
Is this kind of holiday guide common for local newspapers?
Yes. The Commercial Appeal has published Thanksgiving store hours for over two decades. These guides are considered public service journalism — low-profile but high-impact. They’re often produced by the dining or lifestyle desk, not the newsroom, which explains their concise, list-style format. Still, in an era of declining local news, even this basic reporting is a vital community resource.
What should residents do if they need to confirm store hours on Thanksgiving?
Call the store directly. For Cash Saver, use the phone number listed on their website or Facebook page. Many local chains update holiday hours on social media. Avoid relying solely on news articles — especially if hours are incomplete. And if you’re unsure, go early. Thanksgiving morning is the safest bet — stores are least likely to close early before the big meal.