# How Many and What Kinds of Stores Are Open 24 hours a Day Near You? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561 "2024-04-20T22:12:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/1 "2024-04-20T22:12:55Z")
I was reading this thread: > [@Odd interaction at the 24 hour store](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-interaction-at-the-24-hour-store/1000554): > > So, I had an odd, brief interaction at the 24-hour grocery store last night at 3 in the morning and I am not sure what to make of it. Basically, as I was leaving with my groceries, through the automatic doors, a very young couple was coming in. The girl with colored hair was rushing in first followed by the bearded guy. The guy reminds me of some of the guys I met when I worked security at a Renaissance festival in my youth. He was very cocky and sure of himself, probably due to his good looks.… And a couple posters mentioned stores open 24 hours a day are rare. I live in a rural area and the only stores I know of that are open 24 hours a day are a couple truckstops on the Interstate highway. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/2 "2024-04-20T22:23:53Z")
A lot of the convenience stores that were open 24 hours a day **consistently** before Covid have have intermittently been closing at night doing to staffing shortages. A few just completely stopped even trying to be open 24 hours. For reference I live in the northern rural part of New Hampshire. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/3 "2024-04-20T22:27:00Z")
Truck stops like OP. Not very near. But we’ve never had much open late at night. Joints even close at midnight(can’t really call them bars, well, cause they’re _joints_) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/4 "2024-04-20T22:27:21Z")
I live in Dallas (what was the distant suburbs in the early 70s), and near me, we’ve got a handful. - Walmart is open 24 hours - Many gas stations are open in some form 24 hours a day, even if it’s just that the automatic pumps are still on, while the convenience store part is closed. - Some convenience stores are open 24-7 - Some restaurants are open 24-7 - Some restaurants like IHOP and Denny’s are open 24-7. - And while there are only a handful in the whole area, there are some 24-7 pharmacy locations as well. Not super close to me, but still not _that_ far in the grand scheme of things. Most businesses are open from about 9-9, more or less, with some retailers like grocery stores being open more like 7-12 and some like Target being open 8-10. Most restaurants are open depending on what meals they serve- breakfast/brunch places are often open some absurdly early hour like 4 or 5 through about 1, while there are quite a few places that are open until 3 am to catch the late night drunk crowd. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/5 "2024-04-20T22:27:57Z")
There used to be a lot- Giant Eagle, Meijers, Walmart. None I can think of now. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/6 "2024-04-20T22:29:45Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I live in a rural area This is your problem. I live in a city, and 24-hour convenience stores and bodegas are easy to find, laundromats, also some pharmacies and supermarkets. You can also find some cafes and bakeries and places to eat, I think a few gyms. Point is, you are far from screwed if you work the graveyard shift. > [@bump](#): > > there are quite a few places that are open until 3 am to catch the late night drunk crowd. This too: if you need some pizza or kebab at 3 a.m. you can find _something_. > [@dorvann](#): > > A lot of the convenience stores that were open 24 hours a day **consistently** before Covid have have intermittently been closing at night doing to staffing shortages. A few just completely stopped even trying to be open 24 hours. I have noticed this as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/7 "2024-04-20T22:30:08Z")
There’s not a single store open 24/7 anywhere near me. It’s illegal. Everything closes at like 2000 or 2100 and all day on Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/8 "2024-04-20T22:32:30Z")
I lived for a while in a town like that; if you wanted a carton of milk at 3 a.m. you had to go to the petrol station or train station, because it was illegal for any old store to stay open all night. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/9 "2024-04-20T22:35:33Z")
In the western suburbs of Chicago, it comes down to convenience stores, a small handful of drugstore locations, and a relatively small number of restaurants; the latter two are less common now than before COVID, as others have noted. We used to have a few Targets and Walmarts in the area that were 24/7, but no longer. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/10 "2024-04-20T22:40:51Z")
Just 7-Elevens and gas stations (most of which double as convenience stores.) I’m pretty sure Vons and Ralph’s used to be open 24/7, but not the last time I tried to find a dozen eggs at 3am. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/11 "2024-04-20T22:43:56Z")
Nothing commercial is open 24/7 on Hawai’i Island, as far as I know (there may be something I don’t know about on the Kona side, which is more touristy, but I doubt it). In Hilo (about 25 minutes from my place) Ken’s House of Pancakes was famously 24/7 before Covid, but they haven’t been able to find enough staff to stay open 'round the clock, so now even they close. But Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is open 24/7, at least when the lava is flowing. I’ve been there several times between 2 and 5 am during eruptions, in order to watch the glow. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/12 "2024-04-20T22:48:17Z")
I haven’t heard of a COVID-related staffing shortage for what… a year and a half now? Seems like around here, all that has worked itself out to some kind of new equilibrium. > [@bump](#): > > Walmart is open 24 hours I stand corrected; they’re open like 7 am - 10 pm these days. I wasn’t aware that they weren’t 24 hours until I read @kenobi_65’s comment. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/13 "2024-04-20T22:53:25Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I haven’t heard of a COVID-related staffing shortage for what… a year and a half now? Seems like around here, all that has worked itself out to some kind of new equilibrium. Probably so, but I suspect, in many cases, that that new equilibrium still comes down to the same thing: “fewer staff available.” Here in Illinois, the minimum wage is now $14, as of the start of the year, and I would not be surprised if higher labor costs are a factor in stores deciding to not operate during low-volume overnight hours. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/14 "2024-04-20T22:57:45Z")
The grocery store I work at is the only 24-hour grocery store in the county - most of our competitors stopped staying open overnight in 2020 and haven’t gone back, and the other holdout started closing at 10 last year. Other than that, just 7-11, Denny’s, Jack in the Box, one McDonald’s, a few gas stations, and the truck stop. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/15 "2024-04-21T00:11:19Z")
I googled “gas stations near me open 24 hours,” and Google returned a handful within a couple of miles of me. But, one of those is a Shell station which is three blocks from my house, and I know that they actually close at some point no later than 11pm, given that they’re closed when I drive by, on my way home from D&D. Given that, I’m not sure that I trust the rest of the results. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/16 "2024-04-21T00:15:33Z")
Y’all don’t have any Waffle Houses near you? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/17 "2024-04-21T00:17:03Z")
Some gas stations close the store part, but you can still pay at the pump 24/7. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/18 "2024-04-21T00:38:35Z")
I live about an hour north of Pittsburgh. Small town/county seat. We used to have a Walmart and major grocery store open 24 hours until after Covid. Now all we have are a few Sheetz gas station/convenience stores that are open 24 hours. Everything else closes at 8 or 9 PM. A lot of the suburbs located closer to the city have nothing open 24 hours. I can’t say for certain whether there are or aren’t everywhere as I don’t frequent a lot of the more distant locations of the city. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/19 "2024-04-21T00:40:56Z")
My agency has never recovered from the staffing shortage brought about by Covid. We are still severely understaffed. It’s been a real struggle and I am getting ready to retire. I tried to make an appointment with my local Social Security agency and they told me they are so understaffed they are only doing phone appointments. I guess some areas have recovered better than others. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561/20 "2024-04-21T01:20:00Z")
You live in New Castle? Where I am we don’t have Waffle House. That’s a Southern thing and I’m up above the Mason-Dixon line. We used to have a 24-hour Walmart and Eat n Park but now all we have is Sheetz. GetGo closes around 10 pm. Even the Denny’s closes overnight. (Sheetz and GetGo are gas stations/convenience stores. Eat n Park is a restaurant like Dennys.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-and-what-kinds-of-stores-are-open-24-hours-a-day-near-you/1000561.md?page=2)