Why Everything Closes So Early Now

24-hour stores used to feel like a normal part of American life. Then COVID changed store hours almost overnight — and many of those late-night hours never came back. In this video, we look at why Walmart, Denny’s, and other businesses stopped returning to full 24/7 service, how overnight staffing and store operations changed, and why apps, pickup, and delivery made round-the-clock physical access less important. The pandemic may have closed the doors, but it wasn’t the only reason they stayed closed.