Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 1. And while the day has become the unofficial end of summer, the roots of the federal holiday run much deeper.
Labor Day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of the American worker, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Some mystery remains about who exactly established the holiday. Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, was the first to suggest a day to honor those “who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold.” Others credit Matthew Maguire, a machinist and later secretary of the Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., who reportedly proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.
The first state to pass a law recognizing Labor Day as a holiday was Oregon in 1887. Congress made it official in 1894, when it passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.
As a federal holiday, government offices and schools are closed. Most retailers remain open, however. Here’s a look at what’s open and what’s closed on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 1, 2025).
- Federal offices – Closed
- State offices – Closed
- Municipal offices – Closed
- Courts – Closed
- U.S. Post Office – Post Office is closed and mail won’t run Monday
- Fed Ex and UPS – No deliveries except for UPS Express Critical, FedEx Office and FedEx Custom Critical.
- Banks – Closed
- Financial markerts (NYSE, Nasdaq) – Closed
- Schools – Closed
Grocery stores
- Aldi – Limited holiday hours based on location
- BJ’s Wholesale Club – 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Costco – Closed
- Kroger – Open, hours vary by locaiton
- Publix – Open regular hours
- Sam’s Club -8 a.m.-6 p.m. for Plus Members, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for Club Members
- Target – 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Trader Joe’s – 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
- Walmart – 6 a.m.-11 p.m.
Shopping centers
- Most all major retailers and shopping centers are open on Labor Day. Some hours may vary so check ahead.
Drug stores
Restaurants
- Most all restaurants, including Starbucks, McDonald’s, Taco Bell and more are open on Labor Day.
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