Target, Walmart Stores in Maine Will Be Closed on Easter Sunday, March 31

Before March comes to an end, if you need to get some shopping done, you may need to go sooner rather than later.

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According to USA Today, Target stores nationwide will be closed on Easter Sunday this year, March 31, 2024.

However, this retail giant isn’t the only major chain giving their employees the extra day off to celebrate the holidays. TJ Maxx, Sam’s Club, and Costco are also closing nationwide for the holiday.

This, however, is commonplace in Maine. It’s actually Maine law that these big stores can’t be open on the holiday.

Maine is a blue law state. Blue laws regulate or restrict certain activities on Sundays. States with blue laws often have restrictions on selling alcohol on Sundays, limits on the types of businesses that can operate, or prohibitions on certain activities.

From the Cornell Law School, the origins of blue laws are often religious, as they were originally intended to enforce Christian Sabbath observance; however, today they are more commonly seen as a way to regulate businesses and preserve a day of rest.

According to Title 17, '§3204. Business, traveling or recreation on Sunday,' subsection HH, stores that are over 5,000 square feet cannot be open on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Easter Day, the latter of which falls on the last day of March this year.

Additionally, the law defines a 'store' as an operation within one building that advertises and represents itself as one business, regardless of internal departments. Furthermore, any subleased departments within a store are also considered operated by that store.

Walmart stores will be open regular business hours nationwide, but again, that doesn’t affect our stores in Maine, which will be closed on Easter.