Juneteenth: What’s Open, What’s Closed In Wayne?

WAYNE, NJ — Because the June 19 Juneteenth holiday falls on a Sunday this year, the state and the nation will honor the holiday on different days. While New Jersey celebrated Juneteenth on Friday this year, the federal holiday falls on a Monday. (Granted, June 19 — the day of the holiday — falls on Sunday.)

The holiday commemorates the date in 1865, when word reached the last enslaved people in Texas that the Civil War had ended and they were free. Celebrations date back to 1866, but Juneteenth became a federal holiday last year.

There might be more open in New Jersey than in other states Monday, since the state honored the holiday and closed its government offices Friday. In Wayne, Town Hall and schools will be open.

All nonessential government buildings and offices will be closed Monday. Post offices will be closed, and the U.S. Postal Service will not deliver mail or packages.

U.S. stock markets — including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq — will be closed Monday.

Some big brands are giving their employees a day off or paying them extra.

Companies that are already looking seriously at diversity, equity and inclusion efforts may see adding Juneteenth as a paid holiday as “something tangible” that “recognizes the importance of that day,” Julie Stich, a vice president of content at the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans, told NPR.

Nike said in an email statement to NPR that Juneteenth is a paid holiday for corporate, retail, manufacturing and distribution employees across the Nike, Converse and Jordan brands. Zillow is doing the same as part of its “ongoing commitment to racial equality,” the company said in a statement.

Both Zillow and Nike are encouraging employees to reflect on the importance of the day while taking part in volunteering, activism and educational opportunities.

Among them, Target and Starbucks are open, but employees get time-and-a-half pay on Juneteenth, according to a list put together by Entrepreneur.

Tech companies Twitter and Square are giving employees the day off. Google and Amazon aren’t, but they’re encouraging employees to cancel meetings. Amazon is also offering “online learning opportunities” throughout the day.