Americans observe Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 19, a federal holiday that recognizes two of the country’s most revered former leaders — George Washington, the United States’ first president, and Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president who helped unify a divided nation.
The holiday was initially established in 1885 in recognition of George Washington, according to History.com. However, the holiday gained notoriety as Presidents Day after being moved as part of the 1971 Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which was Congress’s effort to create a three-day weekend.
As a federal holiday, government offices, bank branches and some businesses will be closed. Here’s what is open and closed on Monday, Feb. 19.
The West Roxbury Division of Boston Municipal Court. (Mass.gov)
Federal and state courts: Closed
Federal offices: Closed
State offices: Closed
Municipal offices: Closed
Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed
Libraries: Closed
Public schools: Closed
The New York Stock Exchange and the Dow Jones: Closed
Banks: Most bank branches will be closed, but please check with your local bank.
Liquor stores: Open
Cannabis dispensaries: Massachusetts regulators don’t identify specific holidays when cannabis dispensaries must close, according to Tim Caputo, the press secretary for the Cannabis Control Commission. It’s up to the respective cannabis store as to whether they choose to be open or closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
A shopper passes a display of big-screen televisions in a Costco warehouse Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Sheridan, Colo.AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Retail stores: Most retail stores will be Open, but please check with your local retailer.
Stop and Shop: Open
Auburn Mall: Open
Holyoke Mall: Open
Hadley Mall: Open
Natick Mall: Open
Big Y: Open
Market Basket: Open
Price Rite: Open
Star Market: Open
Walmart: Open
Target: Open
Wegmans: Open
Safeway: Open
Costco: Open
CVS: Open
Walgreens: Open
Aldi: Open
Whole Foods: Open
Trader Joe’s: Open
U.S. Post offices: Closed
FedEx: Open
UPS: Closed
The MBTA red line bus pulls into Fields Corner station during a cold winter morning on Jan. 16, 2023.
MBTA: The Subway and The RIDE will run on a Saturday schedule, according to the MBTA website. The bus will also run on a Saturday schedule except for routes 07, 501, and 504, which will all be on a special schedule. The Silver Line and the 354 will also run on a weekday schedule. The Commuter Rail will run on a weekend schedule.
Worcester RTA: Buses will run on a Saturday service schedule, except for routes 29, 33 and 42, according to the Worcester RTA website.
Merrimack Valley RTA: Will provide service on a Saturday schedule, according to the Merrimack Valley RTA website.
MetroWest RTA: The buses will run regularly, according to mwrta.com.
Lowell RTA: Will run bus services on a Saturday schedule, according to the Lowell RTA website.
