Houston locals, you can breathe easy come Presidents Day: H-E-B and other grocery stores are going to stay wide open. According to the Houston Chronicle, on the annual commemoration of our nation's leaders—this year on February 19—it will be business as usual for many big box retailers, including Target and Walmart, with ‘no need to worry about grabbing groceries’.
Expect to find the doors of most banks shut tight though. Presidents Day, a bank holiday for the Federal Reserve system, will see the likes of Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo taking a breather from business. Still, for anyone who absolutely has to get their banking done, TD Bank plans to bravely buck the trend and keep their lights on for customers, and of course, ATMs and online banking services will be operating.
Better plan ahead if you've got mail to ship or are eagerly awaiting a package. The United States Postal Service is taking a day off; so no letters or parcels will be delivered, as confirmed by abc13. However, couriers like UPS and most FedEx services, save for FedEx Express and Ground Economy, won't be skipping a beat—it'll be pickups and deliveries as per usual.
Those thinking to run government errands would do well to wait a day. Whether it's the DMV, the courthouse, or city hall, Presidents Day is a holiday for nonessential government offices and agencies at all levels, making them all but inaccessible for the public. Most public schools will also be on pause, joining federal and state courts in the Monday closures.
After double-checking with individual establishments for specific hours, those looking for some retail therapy or a bite out should find most stores and restaurants open for business. It's a day off for some, but for entrepreneurs and the private sector, it's often just another opportunity to serve the community or make a few extra sales.
