As Americans mark Labor Day, the federal holiday has once again brought with it the familiar question: which businesses and services will be open, and which will close their doors?
For many, the day serves not only as a well-earned pause from work but also as the capstone of a long summer weekend. However, it also comes with some disruptions to normal routines. Post offices, banks, FedEx, UPS, and Costco will all be closed in observance of the holiday. Meanwhile, major retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, and Albertsons stores—along with its family of supermarkets—plan to remain open. Shoppers are advised, however, to check with their local branches, as hours may vary by location.
Labor Day is rooted in a long history of advocacy by American workers. Before it was recognized nationally, labor activists and individual states pushed for a holiday to honor the contributions of the working class. Oregon was the first to pass a law establishing the day, though New York had introduced its own bill earlier.
The origins of who first proposed Labor Day remain debated. Some credit Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, who in 1882 suggested a day set aside to honor workers. Others argue it was Matthew Maguire, a machinist who served as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York and later of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey.
The very first official Labor Day celebration took place in New York City on September 5, 1882, organized by the Central Labor Union. More than a decade later, on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation making Labor Day a federal holiday, cementing it as a national tribute to America’s workers.