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It’s Thanksgiving afternoon. The tables are dressed, the ovens are humming, and before your first guests even arrive, the phone is already buzzing with the same question:

“Are you open today?”

More restaurants are now saying yes, and not just out of necessity. Thanksgiving is changing. Families are going out instead of cooking in. Travelers want familiar comfort. Locals want convenience. And increasingly, it’s becoming a smart business decision to be one of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving. According to an independent study, restaurants recorded an 8.2% sales growth on Thanksgiving 2024 compared to the previous year.

In this post, we’ll break down why more restaurants are choosing to stay open in 2025, and how you can prepare for the holiday rush, especially by leveraging your POS system to stay organized, efficient, and profitable.

Must Read: Is Your POS Ready for the Holiday Rush? A Step-by-Step Guide for Your Restaurant

Why More Restaurants Are Staying Open on Thanksgiving

Demand for convenience and flexibility

These days, many families don’t want to host a massive meal. They may:

• live in smaller spaces
• be travelling
• prefer a relaxed night out instead of stressing in the kitchen
• want to treat themselves

That means a growing number of diners look for restaurants open on Thanksgiving—to eat out, to pick up a full meal, or to enjoy a portion of the holiday without the prep.

Pre-orders, bundles & off-premise boosts

Staying open doesn’t always mean full service only. Many restaurants are capturing the holiday by offering:

• turkey meals to go
• side trays, dessert platters
• family-style bundles
• scheduled pickups

One survey found that nearly half of guests said they’d order a Thanksgiving meal from a restaurant. That’s a major shift from “everyone cooks at home.”

Must Read: How to Create Holiday Menu Combos that Boost Profit

Thanksgiving Eve and the lead into the larger holiday season

Even if the main day is slower, the night before—Thanksgiving Eve—is a powerhouse. Guests out for one last night of freedom before the family gathering. And that helps justify being open on Thanksgiving Day itself as part of a larger holiday arc.

Less competition = more opportunity

With some chains choosing to remain closed on Thanksgiving (to give staff rest, or for strategic reasons), independent restaurants and smaller operators that are open can fill the gap. That can lead to higher market share, stronger positioning, and repeat business post‐holiday.

The holiday season begins with Thanksgiving

Finally: Opening on Thanksgiving isn’t just about one day. It’s the kickoff to the holiday season — gift card sales, catering orders, party bookings, repeat visits. When you’re visible on that day, you position yourself for weeks ahead.

Should You Be One of the Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving?

Before you commit, ask yourself:

• Does your concept fit the holiday mood (family friendly, special menu, gatherings)?
• Can your kitchen and team support a busy or different service flow?
• Are you equipped operationally (menu, staffing, supplies) for that day?
• Can your POS handle the special flow (pre-orders, bundles, schedule pickups, reporting)?
• Is the local market likely to support a restaurant open on Thanksgiving (are people in your area likely to dine out)?

If you answer “yes” to most, then staying open can pay off. If you answer “no”, it may still pay to focus instead on the surrounding days (Thanksgiving Eve, Black Friday, etc.).

How to Get Holiday-Ready (With Your POS at the Core)

Here’s a tactical checklist to prepare your restaurant for Thanksgiving 2025. Think of your POS not just as a cash register, but as your strategic operations hub.

1. Review last year’s holiday performance

Pull up data:

• last Thanksgiving week vs normal week.
• busiest hours.
• top‐selling items, check averages.
• takeout vs dine-in mix (Use that to estimate potential demand, staff levels, and menu focus.).

2. Build a dedicated Thanksgiving menu in your POS

• Create a “Thanksgiving 2025” menu category: prix‐ fixed dinners, family bundles, à-la-carte turkey/sides, holiday desserts.
• Enable modifiers (gluten-free sides, vegetarian bundles, extra portions).
• Schedule the menu to appear only for that day (or adjacent days if you offer pickup).
• Set pricing that reflects holiday value and margin.

Must Read: Top 5 Thanksgiving Foods Your Restaurant Must Offer [2025 Edition]

3. Enable pre-orders and scheduled pickups

• Configure in your POS: allow orders to be placed ahead of time (e.g., up to 3-4 days in advance).
• Set pickup time slots (e.g., 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm) to level kitchen load.
• Enable deposit or full payment when order placed (reduces no shows).
• Use POS reporting to forecast how many bundles to prep.

4. Update hours and visibility

• In your POS, set your holiday opening hours (start & end time).
• Push that to your website, Google listing, delivery/third-party partners.
• Let guests know you’re listed among the restaurants open on Thanksgiving (helps with local search visibility).

5. Staff smartly

• Use your POS labour reports to forecast staffing needs by hour.
• Consider shorter shifts or staggered shifts to avoid burnout.
• Factor holiday premiums, bonuses, or incentive for staff working the day.
• Train your team on the special menu, workflow, and expected service pace.

Free Resource: Employee Scheduling Template for Your Restaurant

6. Streamline service flow

• For dine-in: pace the courses (appetiser, main, dessert) so kitchen isn’t overwhelmed.
• For takeout: use your POS to batch prepare orders and mark time slots.
• For bundling: label all items clearly in kitchen and for pickup.
• Consider adding an automatic service charge or tip option in your POS for big-booking groups.

7. Promote early and consistently

• Use your POS or CRM to pull guest email/SMS lists and send out: “We’re open on Thanksgiving — reserve now!”
• In receipts, on the check presenter, signage in the restaurant: advertise your Thanksgiving menu and pre-orders.
• On social media: “Join us or pick up your feast from one of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving”.
• Consider early-bird incentives: limited number of bundles at a special price.

8. Tag and analyse post-holiday

• After the holiday, tag all transactions in your POS as “Thanksgiving 2025”.
• Review: revenue, check size, labour cost %, takeout vs dine-in split, top/bottom menu items.
• Document what worked and what didn’t — so next year you’re even sharper.

👉 See Also: Holiday Event Guide for Your Restaurant

Why Staying Open Matters for Your Restaurant

Being one of the restaurants open on Thanksgiving isn’t just about capturing one night’s revenue. When done right, it builds:

• Brand visibility: You become the “go-to place” when others are closed.
• Guest loyalty: A strong holiday experience means guests remember you next year.
• Operational rhythm: Managing a major holiday gives your team experience for high-volume service.
• Revenue tail: The holiday week feeds into December bookings, gift cards, and catering.
• Community position: Local diners appreciate the convenience and service when others don’t show up.

Final Thoughts

In 2025, being closed on Thanksgiving may feel like the safe path, but for the restaurant willing to plan, prep and perform, being open can be a strategic opportunity.

Set yourself up with smart menus, clear hours, pre-order systems, well-trained staff, and a POS that can manage the flow. Then, when the phone rings on Thanksgiving morning and a guest asks, “Are you open?” you can answer with confidence: “Yes. We’ve got you covered.”

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, before big-box stores throw open their doors and online shopping carts begin to fill, something quieter — and far more meaningful — happens on Main Streets across America.

A father takes his kids to the same neighborhood pizza shop he grew up with, showing them the old framed photo from 1998 still hanging near the counter. A couple stops by the local liquor store where the owner remembers the bottle he recommended for their first anniversary. A retiree visits her favorite café, the one that opened early during last winter’s storm so neighbors wouldn’t go without a warm drink.

These moments have nothing to do with discounts or national marketing campaigns.
They’re built on relationships, on familiarity, on trust.

And on Small Business Saturday (SBS), those relationships take center stage.

❤️ Small Business Saturday Is About More Than Shopping

When customers show up on SBS, they’re not just “shopping local.”
They’re showing appreciation for the people who’ve quietly taken care of their communities all year long:

• The QSR owner who knows regulars by name.
• The liquor store family who never forgets your favorite bottle.
• The barista who remembers your order even when you forget it.
• The corner retailer who stayed open late so a neighbor could pick up a last-minute item.

SBS has become a national ritual — not because it boosts the economy (though it does), but because it strengthens the emotional fabric of neighborhoods.

This is emotional economics:
People shop where they feel connected.
Where they feel seen.
Where spending money feels like investing in the place they call home.

Why This Matters for QSRs, Cafés, Retail Shops & Liquor Stores

Small Business Saturday is your chance to turn everyday customers into lifelong loyalists.

Here’s why:

1. Customers actively look for local places to support

Americans spent more than $22 billion on SBS in 2024, much of it flowing into food, beverage, and neighborhood retail.

2. People want their money to stay in their community

Every dollar spent locally circulates multiple times within the same neighborhood.

3. People shop small when they feel emotionally connected

You’re not just competing on price — you’re competing on belonging.

4. QSRs and liquor stores are “community anchors”

These businesses are woven into weekly family routines, weekend celebrations, and holiday traditions.

That means SBS is one of your biggest opportunities of the year.

How OneHubPOS Helps You Win on Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is built on human connection — but it’s powered behind the scenes by smart operations.

OneHubPOS helps QSRs, cafés, and liquor stores create fast, seamless, and memorable shopping experiences on the busiest weekends of the year:

Fast Checkout Saves the Day

Long queues? OneHubPOS self-service kiosks and mPOS speed up order-taking and payment so customers enjoy the moment instead of waiting in line.

Inventory Alerts to Avoid “Sorry, We’re Out”

With OneHubPOS’s efficient inventory management, your best-selling wine, holiday desserts, and party essentials won’t run dry mid-day. You can also set item-level low-stock alerts, so that you don’t have to remember reordering.

Also Read: The 2025 Playbook for Smarter Inventory Management 

Bundles & Promos Built for SBS

Create “Holiday Family Meals,” “Party Packs,” or “Buy 2, Get 1” offers in seconds — all trackable in the POS.

Loyalty That Feels Personal

Reward regulars with double points, surprise freebies, or exclusive offers for SBS weekend.

Gift Cards — the Secret Revenue Booster

Sell digital gift cards with one tap — perfect for last-minute shoppers.

Because when your operations run smoothly, your customers remember how easy and warm their experience felt.
That’s what brings them back.

5 Last-Minute Ways to Maximize Small Business Saturday Sales

Even if you’re preparing late, these quick moves can create a major lift:

1. Launch a High-Value Bundle Today

• QSRs → Family Meal Deals, breakfast combos, holiday desserts.
• Liquor Stores → “Neighborhood Party Packs” with spirits + mixers + snacks.
  Bundle it as one POS SKU for faster checkout.

2. Offer Double Loyalty Points for One Day

The fastest way to increase basket size and drive repeat visits next week.

3. Set Up a “Small Business Saturday Shelf”

Make it easy for customers to choose:

• Bestsellers
• Staff picks
• Giftable items
• Limited holiday specials

4. Promote Gift Cards Everywhere

Add QR codes at checkout and on receipts:
“Buy $50, Get $10 Free — Today Only.”

5. Send a Same-Day SMS to Your Customer List

A simple message works wonders: “Happy Small Business Saturday! Shop with us today for exclusive bundles and a small thank-you gift.”

Instant traffic. No design work needed.

Small Business Saturday isn’t about competing with big chains.
It’s about celebrating the businesses that make a neighborhood feel like home.

As a QSR owner, café operator, or liquor store retailer, you already play that role every day. Small Business Saturday is simply your moment to shine — and with OneHubPOS powering your operations, you can make it your strongest day of the season. You can book a free 30-minute demo call with a POS expert to see how OneHubPOS can empower your small business's growth.

Planning to Start Your Business This Small Business Saturday?

If you're not in the game yet and are planning to start your own small business, here are a few useful resources for you. We have curated lists of small businesss ideas that might flurish in different US cities:

1. 10 Small Business Ideas to Start in Chicago
2. 10 Promising Small Business Ideas to Start in San Francisco
3. 12 Promising Small Business Ideas to Start in Los Angeles in 2025
4. Top 10 Small Businesses to Start in Texas in 2025

The "Golden Quarter" is here. For the hospitality industry, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are the Super Bowl of revenue. Foot traffic spikes, tables turn faster, and guests are in the mood to spend. But high volume doesn't automatically equal high profit — unless you engineer your menu correctly.

During the chaotic holiday rush, efficiency is currency. Your kitchen needs streamlined workflows, your servers need simple upselling paths, and your guests — exhausted from shopping and planning—need relief from "decision fatigue."

The solution? Strategic Holiday Menu Combos.

See Also: How to Create and Manage Combo Deals in Your QSR POS

The Data Behind the Deal: Why Combos Work

A well-designed combo isn’t just a discount; it’s a powerful revenue engine backed by behavioral economics. Industry data consistently shows that strategic bundling is one of the most effective levers for profitability during high-volume periods:

• Boost Average Ticket Size (ATS) by 15%: According to a working paper on bundling strategy published by Harvard Business School, bundling helps capture "consumer surplus" — money a customer was willing to spend but wouldn't have if items were priced individually. By pairing a high-margin beverage or dessert with an entrée, you unlock revenue that is typically left on the table.
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• Slash Ordering Time: A famous study on the "Paradox of Choice," found that when customers are faced with too many options, they freeze. A curated combo relieves this "decision fatigue." Simplified choices can reduce table ordering time by 3–5 minutes, a critical gain when you are trying to turn tables during the holiday rush.
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• Drive Inventory Velocity: According to revenue management studies from the Cornell Center for Hospitality Research, strategic menu placement and bundling can increase the sales mix of specific items by over 25%. This allows you to pair slower-moving inventory (like a niche holiday wine) with high-volume best-sellers, reducing waste and keeping stock fresh.

In this guide, we will explore specific, holiday-themed bundles and actionable strategies for managing holiday promotions with restaurant pos systems.

4 High-Profit Holiday Menu Combos to Try

Here are four specific structures for restaurant menu combos tailored for different dining occasions during the festive season.

1. The "Speedy Shopper" Lunch Express

Best for: Fast Casual & Casual Dining

Shoppers are hungry, pressed for time, and laden with bags. They want comfort food, and they want it fast.

• The Combo: A cup of Seasonal Soup (e.g., Butternut Squash or Clam Chowder) + Half Turkey/Cranberry Sandwich + Fountain Drink.
• Why It Profits: Soups are high-margin, batch-prepped items. By bundling a soft drink, you capture a high-profit beverage sale that guests might otherwise skip.
• The Holiday Hook: Market it as the "30-Minute Shopper Refuel."

2. The "Winter Warmer" Add-On (The Upsell)

Best for: Cafes & Bistros

This is one of the simplest holiday menu combos designed to boost the check average on smaller tickets.

• The Combo: Any Holiday Pastry (Gingerbread/Peppermint Bark) + A Specialty Hot Beverage (Spiced Latte/Irish Coffee) for a fixed price.
• Why It Profits: Coffee and tea have some of the highest margins in the industry. Pairing them with a dessert (which has a short shelf life and needs to move) reduces food waste and boosts the check average by $8-$12.
• The Holiday Hook: "Warm up with our Cocoa & Cookie Duo."

3. The "New Year’s Eve Luxe" Surf & Turf

Best for: Fine Dining & Steakhouses

On New Year's Eve or Christmas Eve, guests are willing to splurge on an "experience." Move away from individual entrees and push a multi-course experience.

• The Combo: Shared Seafood Tower Appetizer + 2 Premium Steaks + 2 Glasses of Champagne + Shared Lava Cake.
• Why It Profits: This locks in a 3-course meal and high-tier alcohol sales instantly. It simplifies the kitchen flow because the "Surf & Turf" cadence is predictable.
• The Holiday Hook: "The Midnight Toast for Two."

4. The "Office Party" Platter (Takeout/Catering)

Best for: QSR & Pizza/Wing Shops

Don't forget the corporate crowd. Offices hold holiday parties throughout December and need bulk food solutions.

• The Combo: 5 Large Specialty Pizzas + 50 Wings + 3 Family-Size Salads + 4 Two-Liter Sodas.
• Why It Profits: Bulk orders are highly efficient. You move massive inventory with lower labor costs compared to plating individual dishes.
• The Holiday Hook: "The Ultimate Office Party Survival Kit."

How to Execute Holiday Promotions with Restaurant POS Systems

Great ideas fail without execution. If your staff has to manually type in kitchen instructions or calculate discounts on a calculator, you lose money and slow down service. This is where managing holiday promotions with restaurant pos systems becomes critical.

Here is your technical checklist for a flawless rollout:

1. Use "Forced Modifiers" for Speed

When a server selects a restaurant menu combo, your POS should automatically pop up a menu asking for the specific soup and sandwich choice.

• The Benefit: This eliminates the server running back to the table because they forgot to ask "Cup or Bowl?" It ensures 100% order accuracy during the rush.

2. Route Printers Correctly

Complex holiday menu combos involve multiple stations. The "New Year’s Luxe" combo has drinks, appetizers, and hot entrees.

• The Fix: Configure your POS so that hitting one button — "Luxe Combo" — automatically splits the ticket. The Champagne order prints at the Bar, the Oysters print at the Cold Station, and the Steaks print at the Hot Line.

3. Automate Inventory Deduction

Selling a "Gift Basket" or a "Family Meal"? Ensure your POS is set to deduct the individual components from inventory.

• The Risk: If you don't link the combo to the raw ingredients, your inventory counts will be off, leading to stockouts of critical items like proteins or premium wines.

4. Set Pop-Up Reminders for Staff

Your staff is tired. They might forget to upsell the "Winter Warmer" combo.

• The Strategy: Program your POS to trigger a pop-up prompt when a dessert is ordered: "Suggest the Holiday Coffee Pairing for +$4?" This digital nudge turns your POS into a training tool.

5. Leverage Self-Ordering Kiosks for Automated Upselling

Configure your self-ordering kiosks to automatically display high-margin add-ons or cross-sells right before the payment screen. If a customer orders a single burger, the kiosk can present a large, appealing image and prompt for a "Fries and Seasonal Shake Combo Upgrade."

The Outcome: Kiosks act as a tireless, non-judgmental digital salesperson, significantly increasing the average ticket value and freeing your staff to focus on preparing and delivering the food quickly.

Must Read: Master Upselling and Cross-selling with POS This Holiday Season 

The Bottom Line

The holidays are chaotic, but your menu doesn't have to be. By simplifying choices through strategic holiday menu combos, you reduce friction for your guests and stress for your staff.

Is your operation ready for the rush? Don't let clunky technology bottleneck your most profitable season. You need a system that simplifies complex bundles, automates printer routing, and keeps your inventory in check without the manual headache.

Ready to see how effortless holiday management can be? Join the restaurant owners who are upgrading their efficiency before the busy season hits.

Register for a Free 30-min demo today and see OneHubPOS combo management features in action.