Why Are More Restaurants Staying Open on Thanksgiving 2025 — And How to Make Yourself Holiday-ready Before Thanksgiving

It’s Thanksgiving afternoon. The tables are dressed, the ovens are humming, and before your first guests even arrive, the phone is already buzzing with the same question:

“Are you open today?”

More restaurants are now saying yes, and not just out of necessity. Thanksgiving is changing. Families are going out instead of cooking in. Travelers want familiar comfort. Locals want convenience. And increasingly, it’s becoming a smart business decision to be one of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving. According to an independent study, restaurants recorded an 8.2% sales growth on Thanksgiving 2024 compared to the previous year.

In this post, we’ll break down why more restaurants are choosing to stay open in 2025, and how you can prepare for the holiday rush, especially by leveraging your POS system to stay organized, efficient, and profitable.

Must Read: Is Your POS Ready for the Holiday Rush? A Step-by-Step Guide for Your Restaurant

Why More Restaurants Are Staying Open on Thanksgiving

Demand for convenience and flexibility

These days, many families don’t want to host a massive meal. They may:

• live in smaller spaces
• be travelling
• prefer a relaxed night out instead of stressing in the kitchen
• want to treat themselves

That means a growing number of diners look for restaurants open on Thanksgiving—to eat out, to pick up a full meal, or to enjoy a portion of the holiday without the prep.

Pre-orders, bundles & off-premise boosts

Staying open doesn’t always mean full service only. Many restaurants are capturing the holiday by offering:

• turkey meals to go
• side trays, dessert platters
• family-style bundles
• scheduled pickups

One survey found that nearly half of guests said they’d order a Thanksgiving meal from a restaurant. That’s a major shift from “everyone cooks at home.”

Must Read: How to Create Holiday Menu Combos that Boost Profit

Thanksgiving Eve and the lead into the larger holiday season

Even if the main day is slower, the night before—Thanksgiving Eve—is a powerhouse. Guests out for one last night of freedom before the family gathering. And that helps justify being open on Thanksgiving Day itself as part of a larger holiday arc.

Less competition = more opportunity

With some chains choosing to remain closed on Thanksgiving (to give staff rest, or for strategic reasons), independent restaurants and smaller operators that are open can fill the gap. That can lead to higher market share, stronger positioning, and repeat business post‐holiday.

The holiday season begins with Thanksgiving

Finally: Opening on Thanksgiving isn’t just about one day. It’s the kickoff to the holiday season — gift card sales, catering orders, party bookings, repeat visits. When you’re visible on that day, you position yourself for weeks ahead.

Should You Be One of the Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving?

Before you commit, ask yourself:

• Does your concept fit the holiday mood (family friendly, special menu, gatherings)?
• Can your kitchen and team support a busy or different service flow?
• Are you equipped operationally (menu, staffing, supplies) for that day?
• Can your POS handle the special flow (pre-orders, bundles, schedule pickups, reporting)?
• Is the local market likely to support a restaurant open on Thanksgiving (are people in your area likely to dine out)?

If you answer “yes” to most, then staying open can pay off. If you answer “no”, it may still pay to focus instead on the surrounding days (Thanksgiving Eve, Black Friday, etc.).

How to Get Holiday-Ready (With Your POS at the Core)

Here’s a tactical checklist to prepare your restaurant for Thanksgiving 2025. Think of your POS not just as a cash register, but as your strategic operations hub.

1. Review last year’s holiday performance

Pull up data:

• last Thanksgiving week vs normal week.
• busiest hours.
• top‐selling items, check averages.
• takeout vs dine-in mix (Use that to estimate potential demand, staff levels, and menu focus.).

2. Build a dedicated Thanksgiving menu in your POS

• Create a “Thanksgiving 2025” menu category: prix‐ fixed dinners, family bundles, à-la-carte turkey/sides, holiday desserts.
• Enable modifiers (gluten-free sides, vegetarian bundles, extra portions).
• Schedule the menu to appear only for that day (or adjacent days if you offer pickup).
• Set pricing that reflects holiday value and margin.

Must Read: Top 5 Thanksgiving Foods Your Restaurant Must Offer [2025 Edition]

3. Enable pre-orders and scheduled pickups

• Configure in your POS: allow orders to be placed ahead of time (e.g., up to 3-4 days in advance).
• Set pickup time slots (e.g., 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm) to level kitchen load.
• Enable deposit or full payment when order placed (reduces no shows).
• Use POS reporting to forecast how many bundles to prep.

4. Update hours and visibility

• In your POS, set your holiday opening hours (start & end time).
• Push that to your website, Google listing, delivery/third-party partners.
• Let guests know you’re listed among the restaurants open on Thanksgiving (helps with local search visibility).

5. Staff smartly

• Use your POS labour reports to forecast staffing needs by hour.
• Consider shorter shifts or staggered shifts to avoid burnout.
• Factor holiday premiums, bonuses, or incentive for staff working the day.
• Train your team on the special menu, workflow, and expected service pace.

Free Resource: Employee Scheduling Template for Your Restaurant

6. Streamline service flow

• For dine-in: pace the courses (appetiser, main, dessert) so kitchen isn’t overwhelmed.
• For takeout: use your POS to batch prepare orders and mark time slots.
• For bundling: label all items clearly in kitchen and for pickup.
• Consider adding an automatic service charge or tip option in your POS for big-booking groups.

7. Promote early and consistently

• Use your POS or CRM to pull guest email/SMS lists and send out: “We’re open on Thanksgiving — reserve now!”
• In receipts, on the check presenter, signage in the restaurant: advertise your Thanksgiving menu and pre-orders.
• On social media: “Join us or pick up your feast from one of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving”.
• Consider early-bird incentives: limited number of bundles at a special price.

8. Tag and analyse post-holiday

• After the holiday, tag all transactions in your POS as “Thanksgiving 2025”.
• Review: revenue, check size, labour cost %, takeout vs dine-in split, top/bottom menu items.
• Document what worked and what didn’t — so next year you’re even sharper.

👉 See Also: Holiday Event Guide for Your Restaurant

Why Staying Open Matters for Your Restaurant

Being one of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving isn’t just about capturing one night’s revenue. When done right, it builds:

• Brand visibility: You become the “go-to place” when others are closed.
• Guest loyalty: A strong holiday experience means guests remember you next year.
• Operational rhythm: Managing a major holiday gives your team experience for high-volume service.
• Revenue tail: The holiday week feeds into December bookings, gift cards, and catering.
• Community position: Local diners appreciate the convenience and service when others don’t show up.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, being closed on Thanksgiving may feel like the safe path, but for the restaurant willing to plan, prep and perform, being open can be a strategic opportunity.

Set yourself up with smart menus, clear hours, pre-order systems, well-trained staff, and a POS that can manage the flow. Then, when the phone rings on Thanksgiving morning and a guest asks, “Are you open?” you can answer with confidence: “Yes. We’ve got you covered.”