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If you live in these three states your grocery stores are closed on Thanksgiving

By Kimberley Spinney

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 08: Foster Farms turkeys sit on a table a the SF-Marin Food Bank on November 08, 2021 in San Francisco, California. Ahead of Thanksgiving, Foster Farms donated 8,000 pounds of turkey to the SF-Marin Food Bank, enough turkey for 10,000 holiday meals. Global supply chain issues labor shortages are pushing up the price of turkeys. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 08: Foster Farms turkeys sit on a table a the SF-Marin Food Bank on November 08, 2021 in San Francisco, California. Ahead of Thanksgiving, Foster Farms donated 8,000 pounds of turkey to the SF-Marin Food Bank, enough turkey for 10,000 holiday meals. Global supply chain issues labor shortages are pushing up the price of turkeys. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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Did you know that there are certain states that actually have laws about stores being open on Thanksgiving Day? I know we didn’t, until now. However, thanks to our research into which stores and restaurants are open for the holiday, we learned a few interesting things.

According to USA Today, it turns out there are actually laws that prevent grocery stores from being open on Thanksgiving Day in three specific states. Do you have any idea which states they might be?

You may or not be surprised to learn that the three states with laws on the books that prevent grocery stores from being open on Thanksgiving Day are Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island.

So why can’t shoppers in these three states get any last minute goodies at the grocery store or head to larger chains for their shopping needs?

Shoppers in Maine, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts can’t shop on Thanksgiving because of laws on the books

Upon doing even more research into these laws, we learned that this is a throwback to what they call “blue laws.” If you are unfamiliar, the definition of this is “Blue laws are laws designed to restrict certain activities on Sundays (or other specific days) for religious reasons to observe a day of worship or rest.”

And according to Insider,

"The rules vary among the states. Retailers smaller than 5,000 square feet can operate in Maine, for example.Thanksgiving and Christmas are the main holidays affected in all three states, but in Massachusetts, blue laws also prohibit stores from opening on the mornings of Columbus and Veterans Day without state permission. Easter and New Year’s Day are also sometimes included."

So basically, if you live in Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island, and you forget something for your Thanksgiving dinner, not only might you be out of luck, but if you really do need these items you’ll either have to hope a convenience store or pharmacy has it or even head to an entirely different state.

Next. Is Trader Joe’s open on Thanksgiving Day 2021?. dark

Did you know about these laws? Are you surprised that these are the three states still following blue laws? Let us know.

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