Olive Garden will close all of its roughly 900 restaurants across the United States on December 25, 2025, giving tens of thousands of employees a full day off on Christmas. The chain will shut down operations for 24 hours and reopen on December 26, returning to its standard schedule once the holiday has passed.
Family-Focused Corporate Approach
The company’s decision aligns with its long-standing emphasis on treating both guests and workers like family. Olive Garden has built its brand around a family-oriented message, and extending that philosophy to staffing decisions on major holidays is presented as a practical expression of those values. By remaining closed on Christmas Day, the chain is ensuring that employees who might otherwise be scheduled during a busy dining period can instead spend the day with their own families and friends.
Scale of the Closure
The planned shutdown covers every Olive Garden location in the mainland United States, affecting a workforce that numbers in the tens of thousands across nearly 900 restaurants. Under normal circumstances, Christmas can be a high-traffic day for dining, especially for families choosing to eat out. Forgoing that volume represents a notable operational decision by parent company Darden Restaurants, which owns Olive Garden and several other major dining brands. The company is effectively trading a full day of holiday revenue for a guaranteed day off for its restaurant staff.
For customers, the closure means Olive Garden will not be an option for Christmas Day meals in 2025. Some locations may also adjust their Christmas Eve hours, potentially closing earlier than usual depending on local demand and managerial discretion. Diners who want to visit on December 24 are encouraged to check hours with their local restaurant ahead of time, since schedules may vary by location.
Return to Business and Market Context
All U.S. Olive Garden restaurants are slated to resume normal operations on December 26, 2025. That timing allows the brand to serve guests looking to dine out in the days immediately following the holiday, when many people are off work or traveling. For employees, the resumption of standard hours provides a quick return to regular shifts and income after the single-day break.
Olive Garden’s move fits within a broader pattern among large U.S. employers, particularly in retail and food service, that now routinely close on December 25. Parent company Darden Restaurants is operating in a landscape where several national chains and warehouse clubs, such as Walmart, Target, Costco, and Trader Joe’s, have also adopted Christmas Day closures. Together, these decisions suggest a gradual cultural shift in which worker rest and family time are increasingly built into holiday operating plans, even for enterprises accustomed to staying open during peak shopping and dining periods.
Workforce Policies and Financial Choices
The one-day closure adds to a series of workforce-focused measures Darden has introduced in recent years. The company has raised its starting wage floor in stages, moving to at least $10 per hour in 2021, $11 in 2022, and $12 in 2023 for both tipped and non-tipped employees. Those increases were framed as a response to a tight labor market and a way to enhance financial stability for frontline staff.
In addition to wage hikes, Darden has distributed about $17 million in one-time bonuses to nearly 90,000 hourly workers. Combined, the bonus program and wage increases illustrate an effort to retain staff and improve job quality in a competitive hiring environment. Giving all restaurant workers a guaranteed day off on December 25 reinforces that strategy by emphasizing non-monetary benefits such as time away from work on a major holiday.
From a business standpoint, closing hundreds of restaurants for 24 hours eliminates a day of sales that might otherwise be meaningful for annual results. Industry observers note, however, that some of this demand may simply move to surrounding days, particularly December 26, when families and travelers frequently dine out. Over the longer term, improved morale, stronger retention, and lower turnover can also yield savings on recruitment and training, potentially balancing the immediate loss of Christmas Day revenue.
Changing Holiday Habits and Future Outlook
As more large restaurant and retail brands remain dark on December 25, household holiday routines are gradually adjusting. Some families may lean more on home-cooked meals or informal gatherings instead of dining out. Others may shift their restaurant plans to Christmas Eve, December 26, or to establishments that choose to remain open on the holiday.
While Olive Garden will be closed, some Italian-style competitors, including Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Brio Italian Grill, and Buca di Beppo, plan to serve guests on Christmas Day in many markets. Those chains may see additional traffic from diners who would otherwise have visited Olive Garden, illustrating how different companies are making distinct choices about balancing staffing policies with holiday demand.
Outside the mainland United States, Olive Garden’s schedule on December 25 may differ. Locations in Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and other international markets are expected to set hours based on local customs, regulations, and customer expectations, so patrons in those regions are advised to confirm details directly with their nearest restaurant.
Looking ahead, consumers planning December celebrations in 2025 are encouraged to verify hours well in advance, especially for Christmas Eve and the days just after the holiday, and to make early reservations where possible. As more employers reassess their holiday operations with worker well-being in mind, both diners and employees are likely to see ongoing changes in how the restaurant industry approaches major holidays, with planning and flexibility becoming increasingly important for all sides.
Sources
Olive Garden/Darden Restaurants official website and corporate announcements (December 2025); Restaurant Dive and Nation’s Restaurant News coverage of Darden wage announcements
Darden Restaurants Investor Relations Q3 2021 Earnings Release and PRNewswire press release (March 25, 2021) — Wage increases and $17 million bonus program
National Retail Federation (NRF) 2023 Holiday Consumer Survey and 2025 Winter Holiday Data; FDR/Prosper Insights & Analytics Thanksgiving Weekend Report
Restaurant Industry Workforce Analysis: 7Shifts Restaurant Employee Engagement Study 2024; National Restaurant Association industry data on holiday closures and employee scheduling practices