Black Friday 2025: Store Hours, In-Store Perks, and the Return of Doorbuster Culture

Journey Tribune – Black Friday 2025 opened before sunrise across the United States, and despite a continued surge in AI-powered online shopping tools, major retailers are betting heavily that consumers still crave the thrill of in-person doorbusters. Retail chains from Walmart to Target are rolling out limited-time merchandise, early-entry freebies, and high-value sweepstakes to drive physical store traffic after weeks of ongoing digital discounts.

Industry analysts say the 2025 holiday weekend is shaping up to be a hybrid shopping event: online deals dominate browsing and research, but retailers are using nostalgia, exclusivity, and giveaways to pull shoppers back through brick-and-mortar doors.

“Consumers may shop online more than ever, but the psychology of being first in line—of grabbing something scarce—remains powerful,” said retail strategist Emily Garrison in an interview earlier this week.

Below is a detailed breakdown of opening hours for major stores nationwide, as well as the most notable Black Friday freebies available only to early in-person shoppers today.

National Black Friday Store Hours for Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

Store schedules vary by region, but these are the general operating windows confirmed by the retailers. Shoppers can verify local hours using official “store locator” links provided for each chain.

• Academy Sports + Outdoors — 5 a.m.–11 p.m.
• Apple — Hours vary by location.
• Athleta — Hours vary.
• Banana Republic — Hours vary.
• Barnes & Noble — Opens 8 a.m.
• Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s — 5 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Bath & Body Works — Many locations open by 6 a.m.
• Belk — 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Best Buy — 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
• BJ’s Wholesale Club — Opens 7 a.m.
• Burlington — 7 a.m.–midnight
• Costco — 9 a.m. for Executive members; 10 a.m. for all members
• Dick’s Sporting Goods — 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Five Below — Opens 7 a.m.
• GameStop — Varies; many open 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Hobby Lobby — 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Home Depot — Opens 6 a.m.
• HomeGoods — 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
• JCPenney — Opens 5 a.m.
• Kohl’s — Opens 5 a.m.
• Lowe’s — Opens 6 a.m.
• Macy’s — Most open 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Marshalls — 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Michaels — 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Nordstrom / Nordstrom Rack — Hours vary.
• Office Depot / OfficeMax — Varies, many open at 8 a.m.
• Ross — 7 a.m.–11:30 p.m.
• Sam’s Club — 8 a.m. (Plus members) / 9 a.m. (all members)
• Sephora — Hours vary.
• Staples — Opens 9 a.m.
• Target — Opens 6 a.m.
• TJ Maxx — 7 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Ulta Beauty — 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Victoria’s Secret — Hours vary (many open by 6 a.m.)
• Walmart — 6 a.m.–11 p.m.

Major Freebies and Giveaways for Early Shoppers

Many of the most compelling in-store incentives are available only during narrowly defined morning windows. Age restrictions or membership requirements may apply.

Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s: Mystery Gift Cards

The first 250 customers at every location receive a sealed promo card valued anywhere from $10 to $500. Cards become active Dec. 5–27.

JCPenney: Snow Globes, Mystery Coupons & Hourly Prizes

JCPenney continues its tradition of giving away collectible snow globes to the earliest shoppers.

• 5 a.m. — Snow globe + mystery coupons (each store has one $500-off-$500 coupon).
• 9 a.m. — Chance to win a Cuisinart coffee maker.
• 1 p.m. — Lab-grown diamond stud giveaway.
• 5 p.m. — Sutra Aero Styler prize.

Kohl’s: Early-Bird Kohl’s Cash

The first 200 customers nationwide receive special Kohl’s Cash worth $5 to $100. Ten shoppers across the country will also receive the chain’s Black Friday windfall: a $10,000 prize.
Kohl’s is also running its Holiday Quest Sweepstakes through Christmas, culminating in a $100,000 grand prize.

Lowe’s: Free Bucket Bundle for Members

The first 50 MyLowe’s Rewards members at each store receive a free Lowe s-branded bucket filled with assorted products. One shopper per store will also win a major appliance valued at up to $2,000.

Target: Limited-Edition Tote Bags & “JoyPop” Prizes

Target is distributing a limited-edition iridescent holiday tote to the first 100 customers at each store, each containing surprise merch and samples.
Additionally, 10 shoppers per store will receive deluxe mystery gifts valued $99 to $350.

Target is also deploying “JoyPop Game” stations at select stores nationwide—interactive booths offering instant-win goodies like holiday gift tags, wrapping paper, and exclusive seasonal items.

A Retail Landscape in Transition

While Black Friday foot traffic has gradually rebounded since the pandemic lows, analysts say the long-term trend still leans toward digital-first holiday shopping. However, retailers continue to experiment with incentives that reward physical attendance.

Walmart, for example, opened its second round of Black Friday deals online earlier this week but waited until today to release its in-store-only doorbusters, a tactic designed to balance digital convenience with in-person exclusivity. Target, meanwhile, has emphasized community-style celebrations, store-specific surprises, and limited-edition merchandise unavailable online.

Expect many of today’s promotions to fold into Cyber Monday sales early next week, continuing the now-familiar pattern of a long, blended holiday shopping marathon rather than a single-day event.