Presidents Day Monday: Here’s What’s Open Or Closed In Illinois

Ah, Presidents Day. The holiday that's part history lesson, part "Okay, what's closed today?"

Presidents Day this year lands right at a time when Illinois is at peak “Are we done with winter yet?” mode because of the suddenly warmer temperatures we've been gifted with. It’s a federal holiday, which means some places roll up the sidewalks while others act like it’s just another Monday with better sales.

The holiday began as Washington’s Birthday, created to honor the original powdered-wig influencer, George Washington. Over time we decided one president wasn’t enough and started informally folding in Illinois' own Abraham Lincoln. In 1971 the government moved the celebration to the third Monday in February so Americans (especially those who make the laws) could enjoy a long weekend, and a wide variety of businesses could overuse the phrase “Presidents Day Blowout!”

Here's What Presidents Day Means For Your Monday Plans

We should start by telling you what's open and what's not on Monday, February 16th:

Closed for the Day

• Federal, state, and county offices, including Secretary of State facilities

• Post offices (no mail delivery, so stop refreshing the tracking page)

• Banks and credit unions

• The stock market

• Most public schools, libraries, and courthouses

Basically, if the building features a flag, a seal, or a photo of someone looking stern from 1987, it’s probably closed.

Open On Presidents Day

• Grocery stores, big-box retailers, restaurants, and bars

• Shopping malls and movie theaters

• UPS and FedEx deliveries

• Most private businesses

So basically, you can’t renew your license plate sticker, but you can buy a giant TV, a rotisserie chicken, and a shamrock-shaped throw pillow for our next calendar celebration (St. Patrick's Day) all in one trip.