Monday, June 19, signifies the third national observance of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, marking the end of slavery in the United States. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth has a history that goes back over 150 years. It originated from a significant event after the Civil War on June 19, 1865, when Union General Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the freedom of the last remaining enslaved individuals, who had already been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation years before. This date in 1865 is remembered as the official end to centuries of slavery in America.
Given the renewed momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, there was an increased interest in the importance of Juneteenth and calls for its national recognition. The following year, President Joe Biden signed legislation declaring Juneteenth as a federal holiday, annually observed on June 19.
Banks
On Monday, all non-essential federal offices, including federal courts and banks, will be closed, following the pattern of other federal holidays. State governments and non-essential offices in states like New York, where Juneteenth is recognized as both a state and federal holiday, will also close. However, most ATMs should remain open, while larger banks such as JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America will be closed to align with the Federal Reserve Bank’s yearly calendar and the national holiday schedule.
Wall Street
The stock market will be closed on Juneteenth to observe the holiday, just as it was in 2022. This includes the closure of the NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange.
Mail and Postal Services
Some postal services may pause operations on Juneteenth, but not all. The U.S. Postal Service will be closed on Monday, resulting in mail delivery delays until Tuesday. However, UPS will operate as usual, while FedEx will provide regular services on Monday.
Schools
Public and many private schools will be closed on Monday for Juneteenth. Federal offices, Federal Student Aid processors, and contact centers, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Education, will also be closed. The recognition of Juneteenth as a state holiday varies locally, as approximately half of U.S. states have yet to officially recognize it. For example, in New Jersey, where Juneteenth is observed on the third Friday of June, schools, state courts, and government offices will be closed on Friday instead of Monday.
Private Businesses
Many employees in the private sector will have the day off to observe Juneteenth. Private-owned restaurants and retail venues can decide whether to remain open or not. While some large brands, like Starbucks, Nike, and Target, have recognized Juneteenth as an official company holiday, most of their individual stores will operate on regular business hours. The closure of large retail and grocery stores on Juneteenth varies by company.
For example, BestBuy acknowledges Juneteenth as a company holiday and offers some employees paid time off while keeping its stores open. Costco warehouses, which only close for seven national holidays, will remain open on Juneteenth. Target recognizes Juneteenth as a company holiday and allows employees to observe it as they prefer, but stores do not close. Trader Joe’s and Walmart will also operate on a normal schedule on Monday.
While REI is open on Juneteenth, Patagonia’s U.S.-based stores will be closed.
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