Holiday hours matter, considering human nature: leaving things to the last minute or needing something right on the day of.
Especially when a holiday falls on a Monday, and shoppers have missed something during their weekend shopping, or like me, wait for weekdays to shop or order to avoid the rush.
This year, Columbus Day falls on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, and while Federal offices generally close for the day, private retailers determine their own schedules.
For shoppers, ALDI stores are expected to be open on Columbus Day.
The discount grocer has not announced a nationwide closure for Monday, Oct. 12.
Also read: DoorDash wants customers to stop using its app to order food
ALDI locations are expected to remain operational during regular business hours. For most Aldi locations, it is between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm.
ALDI’s information page makes it clear that on certain holidays, its stores are closed, and on others, store hours are affected.
On New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, all ALDI stores are closed.
Meanwhile, on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve, ALDI is only open for limited hours.
A quick check of the company’s store locator can confirm the opening and closing times of your nearest location.
The company says that because Aldi isn’t a 24/7 operation, its store workers can spend more time with their families on most holidays, when stores either close for the day or operate on reduced hours.
So while Columbus Day isn’t currently listed by Aldi as a companywide closure, shoppers shouldn’t assume the chain follows the same schedule on every holiday.
More shoppers are getting an Aldi nearby
Aldi’s Columbus Day hours may be relevant to shoppers more than ever as the grocer rapidly expands its U.S. footprint.
The company announced in January that it plans to open more than 180 stores across 31 states in 2026.
Those openings are expected to bring Aldi to nearly 2,800 U.S. stores by the end of the year, putting it closer to its goal of 3,200 stores by the end of 2028.
The grocer said 17 million new customers visited its stores in 2025, while one in three U.S. households shopped at Aldi during the year, citing its own data.
Aldi is also moving into new markets.
Its 2026 expansion includes its first store in Maine, 10 additional stores in the Phoenix market, and the continued conversion of Southeastern Grocers locations into Aldi stores.
The rapid expansion comes as shoppers continue looking for ways to stretch their grocery budgets.
Related: T-Mobile reduces a generous discount as customers see prices rise
