Q: I live in Canada and I am planning on going on holidays in New York State. Are the stores open for shopping on July 4th or is everything closed. Thanks so much for the answer.....
A: A lot of places remain open on July 4th, especially drug stores, convenience stores and fast food. It's mainly government offices, banks and schools that are closed for the holiday. It might not be the best day for shopping, because a lot of shops might be closed or closing early, but you would still be able to buy necessities, like gas, food, etc. Since it's a federal holiday, civil service is off, but everyone else decides for themselves whether or not to stay open. It's good for retail to stay open during holidays, because the people who are off work have time to shop. Usually Christmas and Thanksgiving are the only holidays when almost everything is closed, because everyone wants to be with their family.