While most places to eat or shop for food will not be open for Thanksgiving, there are some restaurants, grocery stores and hot meals available for those staying in town.
Grocery stores
All Hy-Vee locations will be closed, but you can order takeout for Thanksgiving. These meals can be ordered online or in person starting Saturday and picked up from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. up to a day or two before Thanksgiving.
Gerbes will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. There are locations at 1729 W. Broadway and 2900 Paris Road.
Moser’s will be open from 6am to 6pm on Thanksgiving Day. Its three locations are at 900 N. Keene St., 4840 Range Line St. and 4420 Faurot Drive.
Schnucks, Walmart, Eatwell and Aldi will be closed.
The Columbia Farmers Market will host vendors for its Thanksgiving Market on November 21st from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at 1769 W. Ash St.
Corinna Smith, executive director of the Columbia Farmers Market, said the market will offer food items for Thanksgiving meals. No turkeys will be available this year, she said, but there are items such as meats, baked goods, breads, pies and preserves.
People can also contact individual vendors on their Facebook pages or websites if they want to order pre-ordered items like pies, Smith said.
Restaurants
Glenn’s Cafe will be open Thanksgiving Day from noon to 8:00 pm for dine-in and carry-out. The menu features a three-course Thanksgiving dinner featuring sliced turkey breast, bourbon-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce. Glenn’s is located at 29 S. Eighth St.
Truman’s Bar and Grill is open from 2:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. and will offer its normal menu of burgers, sandwiches, wings, salads and pizza. On Black Friday, Truman’s will be open from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. It’s located at 3304 W. Broadway Business Park Court.
11Eleven, located at 1111 E. Broadway, will be offering Thanksgiving buffets from 11am to 1:30pm and 5pm to 7:30pm. Buffet reservations are required and there is a maximum of 12 guests per reservation.
Meadow Jako, a manager at 11Eleven, said diners can fill their plates with turkey, ham, a variety of pies and desserts, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and creamed corn.
The buffet will cost $31.95 per adult, $26.95 for seniors and $19.95 for children 12 and under. Children under four will be free.
Waffle House will be open 24 hours with its regular menu. Columbia’s two locations are at 904 Vandiver Drive and 2701 S. Providence Road.
Hot dishes
A Time to Give Thanks is an annual event organized by the nonprofit Columbia Powerhouse Community Development. This will be his 26th year. People can come for a hot meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbia Senior Activity Center at 1121 Business Loop 70 E.
Canned food can be donated at 601 Business Loop 70 W., Suite 204, through November 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. On November 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., food boxes will be distributed at the same address.
The Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri is preparing its Partnership Against Hunger, an all-day drive for food and funds to help families put food on the table during the holidays and beyond, according to its website. The event will run from 6am to 6pm on November 21st. Participating locations include all Hy-Vee locations in Columbia, as well as the Schnucks at 1400 Forum Blvd.
You can also donate money via credit card or Venmo. Their most needed items, according to the website, include canned meat or protein, canned fruits and vegetables, beans, rice, canned soup and packaged meal kits.