Feeding Frenzy

By Lori

December 24, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

I absolutely think that stores should be closed on Christmas. The people that work there deserve time with their families too, and time to prepare their meals. If they were open part of the day, when would the poor folks cook their goose!! People should plan ahead. That being said, I have myself run out of needed items in the middle of baking, but since I like to bake, I generally have enough items on had to change my plans. Unless you forget the turkey, I don’t think anyone’s holiday meal would re ruined without that extra plate of cookies!! Merry Christmas (or Happy Holidays, whichever you prefer).

By Lori

December 24, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

Emergency baking tip…Always have a bag of chocolate chips in the pantry. In a pinch you can make cookies, but you can do other things. Forget the glaze for your bundt cake, no problem, melt the chips. Need quick chocolate filling for that roulade, again, melt the chips and whip up with heavy cream. Make quick chocolate candy with the chips and some peanut butter. You’d be suprised how many last minute recipe disasters can be averted with a little chocolate on hand.

By Temp

December 24, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

Lori, why not just mandate that all stores be closed on Christmas? Do you think that those who are not Christian should be prevented from carrying on as they see fit.

If a store wants to be open, then they should be open. If they want to be closed, they should be closed. Just as Chik-Fil-A chooses to close on Sundays, but other stores choose to be open. People can decide where they want to work, customers can decide where they want to shop. I’ve certainly been happy in past years that Kroger has been open so I could pick up a crucial, but forgotten, ingredient. People need to butt out and let others do as they please.

By Samantha

December 24, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

I think that the stores should be closed on Christmas Day. Employees that work in grocery stores also have families that they like to spend their Christmas Day with.

By Jo

December 24, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

I’d have no problem with stores being closed Christmas as long as they are closed Chanukah as well. Excure me, but practitioners of any one religion are not “better than”, “superior to” or “count more” than practitioners of any other faith.

By Jennifer

December 24, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

I see nothing wrong with having one day of the year that everyone is closed. If an employee at Kroger could choose to either have a day off, or work, most would probably choose to take the day off. While I don’t think it’s necessary for gov’t to intervene, I do think it’s a company choice. But I think they should all just close and give commerce a break for one day.

By Mel

December 24, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

Jo, I think a better example would be if stores were also closed on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, since Hannukah isn’t considered one of the High Holy days. I don’t recall people missing school or work for Hannukah…

But stores can open if they want. Not my choice, and certainly not the government’s choice.

By lisa

December 24, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Life has changed so much. As a child, growing up in the 70’s in New Jersey, stores closed at 5pm on Saturday and not open until Monday morning.

During Thanksgiving, Xmas and New Years, only the corner store would open, but that would not open until 1-2pm.

By Behind Enemy Lines

December 24, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Temp already covered it very well.
If they choose to be open, great.
If they choose to close, fine too.

By CK Hall

December 24, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

First of all it’s quite evident of your insensibilities towards Christians…It should be CHRISTmas and not Xmas. If one is so dumb not to have ingredients to cook on CHRISTmas then do without!

By bulldogbubba

December 24, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this

It is the retailers choice to open or close.As a person who worked retail for over 30 years i think it is selfish of anyone one who thinks a grocery store or a ‘box retailer’ should be open on thanksgiving or christmas.Having had to work those days in the past the store that is open will not do enough business to cover the payroll and the utilities for the day.The holidays are suppose to be about family time!!So please don’t cheat anyone from an opportunity to spend that time with someone they love and not with those who have had 364 days to get ready for that “1” special day.

By outspoken1

December 24, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

Gimme a break. If you can’t find, buy or decide in 364 days what you need for dinner you deserve to starve to death. I NEVER shop at any store open on a major holiday. NO Kmart on T’giving, NO anything on Easter. It is sick that the question is being asked. Merry Christmas!

By Peadawg

December 24, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

By lisa December 24, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

It’s CHRISTmas, not xmas…idiot.

By Deb

December 24, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

I suggest we view this issue in another light. With the worse economic downturn since the Great Depression, families are scrambling to make ends meet. Anyone lucky enough to have a job on this Christmas will gladly work in order to have food on their table in the coming weeks.

By Norman Wilson

December 24, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

If you’re going to call it XMAS I guess it’s ok, but to me it is Christmas and everyone should be able to spend the day with their families and friends, not catering to a bunch of grumpy people who lacked the foresight to plan ahead a day or so.

By ron

December 24, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

As far as I’m concerned any store can do as it pleases on any day or night of the year.If I want to shop I’ll be there and if I don’t I won’t.If I should run out of an ingredient on a holiday,the recipe just doesn’t get made.That’s like any other day of the year.

By Carmen

December 24, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

I think all stores should be closed on Christmas Day…everyone should be able to relax, celebrate and watch all the FOOTBALL they want!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE

By ExBag Boy

December 24, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Some of my warmest Christmas memories were standing behind the locked doors of ** at 7:01 pm on Christmas Eve night saying “Sorry we’re closed”. The looks on the faces of these people were priceless.

Yes, the government shouldn’t be involved in who closes and who doesn’t, but because you morons insist on making it profitable for stores to stay open on Holidays, workers are forced to work on them rather than spend time with there families.

So the next time you want to shop on a holiday out of convenience just remember you’re probably robbing a child of holiday time with a parent.

By Heather

December 24, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Y’all realize that not everyone is a christian, right? That, in reality, there are a LOT of people who aren’t christians?

By GDR

December 24, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this

We live in an extremly diverse, complicaed, 24-7-365 world. I am recently retired from the hotel business and my wife from nursing where being open on Christmas was a necessity - after all, those traveling/visiting relatives need a place to stay & the sick cannot be advised to go home & come back on 12/26. We generally covered it in the hotel by having the non-Christian staff work on Christmas Eve & Day & those of us who were Christian (or @ least celebrated those holidays) worked on the Jewish or Islamic Holy Days - worked out well for over 20 years - wife’s hospital posting did this insofar as they could but then had a minimum schedule (4 hours each) where staff worked so all could accomodate their personal celebration/visiting needs.

(Think about it, would we want our power company staff, water/sewer staff, police, fire depts, etc., to close down - food stores & restaurants are just as essential in today’s world! But, I do agree that general goods retailers should close)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

By red

December 24, 2008 3:54 PM | Link to this

I think that stores should close their doors on Christmas just as they did in the past. At the rate were going there will be dozens of “holy days” that people will want recognized and all of them will be used for commercial purposes. The real meaning of the season has long been forgotten. It’s all about selfishness on the part of most people anyway.

By JudyG

December 24, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

I think some people need to learn to plan ahead and check their pantries to see if they have all the ingredients they need rather than selfishly think stores should be open for their lack of personal responsibility.

By PK

December 24, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this

Yes, our society is diverse, however, we should realize the majority of people in this country still celebrate Christmas, as such, for many people that is the only time they have to spend with their families, many who have travelled to see them.

I agree with someone else, I would hate for people to have to work/standing on their feet etc because a few people can’t plan ahead. As long as that “what’s-in-it-for-me” and “as-long as I don’t have to work—then I don’t care” attitudes persist then this is what we will get in society.

By kwn

December 24, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

Heck - Might as well close all of the gas stations too or are grocery store emplyees more special? Employees should have the option of working or taking Christmas day off.

By yankee

December 24, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

You gotta love the “Christians” here who talk down to folks that have a different point of view. Real Christian of you.

By JeebusNotTheReasonForMySeason

December 24, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Heh, we non-Xtians know (since we are rudely and blatantly indoctrinated with it 365 days/year) that the world REVOLVES around them and their needs. Give me a break, if I want to pick up something on XMAS day I will. Xtians are always arrogantly dictating to the rest of the world how to live.

BTW, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE (I’ll include the XTIANS, which is more charitable than some of their ilk have been to me.)

By red

December 24, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

They should close the gas stations or at least most of them. Once people learn that not everybody will be at their personal beck and calls they will learn to prepare ahead of time.

By Wanda Powell

December 24, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this

The stores should be closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving & Easter. I also think they should be closed on Sunday like it used to be when I was little. Those were the good ole days.

By Dawn

December 24, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this

Are you really so pushed for space on your site that you have to replace Chrst with X in Christmas?

By John

December 24, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this

In a word, no. It’s not the store’s fault that you didn’t bother to check in advance to see what you needed. Until 30 years ago, we got along fine in this country without having grocery stores open on Sunday. I think that every grocery store, every mall, every restaurant and every retailer (Walmart, Target, Home Depot, etc.)sgould close on every major holiday—Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. It wouldn’t hurt any of us to just know in advance there are days we can’t shop and must spend doing something else. Just do it.

By CHRISTian

December 24, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this

Spare us your ignorant attempts to get into hell and drop the Xtian nonsense. We are CHRISTians. Try it, it’ll improve your IQ!

By Joe

December 24, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

It’s Christmas! It’s one of the most important, if not the most important holiday in the world, and stores are open.

Stores should not be open on Christmas, as everyone should get to spend time with their family.

I mean, in most parts of SC, stores can’t even open on Sundays until 1:30.

I agree with everything closed on Christmas Thanksgiving, and maybe Easter (but when we were in Tampa on vacation, not much was open on Easter).

By seh

December 24, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

Jeebus, THAT was funny!

By JH Ansley

December 24, 2008 7:05 PM | Link to this

Why is it that every Indian wants to be the chief? Many of you are so rude and have that holier-than-thou attitude. With that being said I will say that I’m saddened to see so many of our American traditions squashed because we’ve welcomed so many diverse people to our country.

No one wants to admit that born Americans are out of work because of the extreme amount of non-born Americans taking our jobs. Everybody has an accent now.

When I’m out I always encounter more accents than a true American voice. That’s some scary stuff.

We’ve given our country away and now we can no longer say Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas America

By Sue

December 24, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this

Do believe stores should be closed on holidays but especially Christmas. Don’t agree they should be closed on Sunday. That is the only day of the week that I have off and able to shop or do anything else.

By seh

December 24, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this

Jeebus, Remember Duke’s Xtian Laettner and singer Chris Xofferson? CNN Has reporter Xianne Ammanpour. LOL

By malika

December 24, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this

wow, you people are NUTS. first off, it is a personal choice to call the day XMAS. what you do is your business, but stop acting like you’re so righteous because you prefer to spell it CHRISTMAS. secondly, i found myself in a real pickle last year when all of the stores were closed. i got online and spent about an hour on the phone trying to find a place that was open so that i could get cheese of all things. i finally found a foodmart about 20 minutes away. could the krogers possibly pool the workers that don’t mind working XMAS (not ALL of us are christians) and pay them overtime and have them work at ONE location? sure it would be a tad inconvient to people that are further away from it but for those that don’t mind working and for customers that need something it would work. i worked as a concierge at a job for some years and i didn’t mind working days like XMAS, tgiving, easter, etc. i respect the religious preferences of others, but the day doesn’t stop for EVERYONE just because some choose to celebrate.

By Duane

December 24, 2008 7:57 PM | Link to this

Note: Don’t take offence, I am using you to try to prove a point. I am on the fence on this issue, from working at retail stores when I was a teen I would say, ok I have to come in on Christmas(or Thanksgiving) because YOU did not prepair. Thats not right.HOWEVER the other part of me says, nobody worries about us here in the emergency services field having to work the holidays.

By Sandra

December 24, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this

I remember when everything was closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Not even a gas station was opened. No one minded either. They all knew they had to have everything before the stores closed and had to gas up the day before. Since America has become more diversed- things have changed. Now, America has to cater to everyone-which a shame at somethings.

By Suzan

December 24, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this

I also remember when everything was closed on Christmas and Easter. Even though they are Christian holidays, just think of the non-Christians that celebrate them in a really big way.

No matter what your belief, Merry Christmas.

By dell

December 24, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

I think all stores, and gas stations should close on Christmas. I remember getting up 15 years ago and driving all over town to find a store open. The only one open was a 7-11, and it had a line out the door. From then until now, I prepare at least 3 days ahead, if I need something from the grocery. I work in a retail store that closes every holiday,and I know how relieved the employees are that they are automatically off, and don’t have to bargain for the day off. We close at 4pm the day before the holiday, and open at 10am the day after. Our store is in the mall, but it does not stay open like the other stores. People who work with the public, especially grocery store clerks, need time to be with their family. Children do not understand if you can’t be home with them on Christmas morning, and all day, to celebrate with them.

By Virginia

December 24, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this

OK This is from someone who has been in the grocery business 30 yrs…. If you cannot do enough planning ahead for ONE DAY … Its not like Christmas is a surprise… Thank you…

By dell

December 24, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this

I was visiting in College Place,Washington last summer, and all of stores closed at 6pm on Friday. They didn’t open until 10am Sunday. The reason was that the businesses in College Place are owned by 7th Day Adventist, and they believe that everything should stop at that time. Nothing was open after 6pm Friday, or all day Saturday. Sunday was their Monday, and that is when people shopped at the grocery, gas stations, and clothing stores. They had no stores that sold alcohol or cigarettes. So everyone has a different practice.

By Robin

December 24, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this

We need to go back to the way it used to be, everything closed between noon and 2p and didn’t open again until the 26. Not even gas stations were open. Everyone planned ahead and spent the day with family and friends. Everyone is so greedy — get back to reality.

By faye

December 24, 2008 10:01 PM | Link to this

For those of you getting your panties in a bunch over the X in Xmas, please realize that the Greek letter chi, or ‘X’, was considered a symbol for Christ at least 1,000 years ago. It’s also part of the chi-rho, a symbol that’s a P over an X that is very common in Christian religious symbolism signifying the Christ.

As to the question at hand, it should be up to the retailer, not the government - I grew up in Massachusetts with strict Sunday blue laws that were eventually eroded by commerce. That being said, I respect that Publix chooses to close - I’m also the first to run to Kroger if I forget anything! I’ve worked the holiday (former restaurant and retail worker) so I’m very nice and generous if the opportunity presents itself.

By Vernon Catron

December 24, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this

Whether to stay open or close on Christmas (Xmas) should be up to the business NOT the lawmakers. I do not have any objection to a business open or closed, I relish having Christmas off. I am a Christian who is also respectful of other religions and beliefs. I am against limiting businesses ability to provide services based on the day of the week i.e. liquor sales.

By not sure

December 24, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this

I agree with Duane…I am okay with stores being closed on holidays…but, with my husband working as a firefighter, he has not had a Christmas, Thanksgiving, or any other holiday off for years. While it is fine to argue one way or another, there is a whole other group we are not recognizing here…public services have families too. We learn to adapt…holidays are about the occasion, the family, and the closeness, and those are things we should have throughout the year.

By Michael

December 24, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this

Close the stores. Stores that close and respect their employees usually have better employees all year round. Like Chik-fil-A. Stores like Kroger have idiots working for them b/c of this type of garbage.

By Sue-z-que

December 24, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this

it’s all about $$$…stay open 24/7/365 unless ya get off on paying overhead for down/dead time…DUH!!!

By working

December 24, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this

I’m sitting at work right this very minute. There are those of us who work to make sure our phone calls go through, your lights stay on, etc. I also include all the hospital workers, emrgency personnel, everyone working tonight & tomorrow to keep us safe. As to whether something should be open or closed, that is up to the business. I plan ahead and don’t run out to the store for every little thing. But remember, there was a time before modern refrigeration that people shopped for food every day. And don’t blame immigrants for everything. Are you 100% Native American Indian? I’ll bet anything you’re ancestry is either English, Irish, Welsh, German, etc.

By Hater

December 24, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this

Hey guys, guess what? Jesus is still dead. Quit invoking him in every simple, mind-numbing argument, please. As for the stores, let their conscience, and wallets, be their guide. If it’s in their best interest to be open 24/7/365, they’ll do it. And the people who want to actually cash a paycheck, will be there to staff them.

By gwannie

December 24, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

Why should store employees work on holidays just because you failed to plan ahead? They have a right to be with their families just as you do!

By Shauna

December 25, 2008 12:29 AM | Link to this

Okay, for all of you who want to play the racist card - stop it!! We all know the reason that we celebrate Christmas in this country. If you don’t like it - go home or if this is your home go to another country during the holiday season. We all know that in this economy people need jobs. But children also need their parents to be there for them. Establishing traditions early in a childs life is very important and children don’t understand that mommy or daddy can’t be there to open presents because some idiot forgot to pick up cheese for the macaroni and cheese for Christmas dinner. You don’t have to be a Christian to have decent and common courtesy for others. The bottom line is that the stores can’t ask for volunteers because they won’t get enough to run the store efficiently. Plus, for those of you who don’t celebrate, you are the main ones screaming why do I have to work if so-and-so doesn’t. So don’t come on this blog and act as if you would work on the holidays if asked. My husband works for FedEx and for the first time in 10 years they are open tomorrow. He was suppose to work because he is on call this month. I had a TOTAL fit. We have an 11 and 5 year old and I will be darned if he is not at home to help and watch them open their presents from Santa and for us to have our traditional breakfast honoring our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only one of his peers with little children and he cannot make it to work that day. Plus, employers make that day mandatory. You can call off of work any other day but these specific holidays. That makes no sense either. If you want it to be fair across the board then these days should be open for vacation days or sick days just like any other day. You people just want your cake and eat it too.

By alex

December 25, 2008 12:31 AM | Link to this

I work at a Kroger superstore in Georgia. We are open 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The only day of the year we are closed is Christmas day. We close at 7 on Christmas eve and re-open at 3 on the day after.

I think after serving people 364 days a year, all hours of each day, no one should forget anything in their recipes.

Give us a break for one day. After all, we wouldn’t be on Earth if it weren’t for the Lord.

By Lew

December 25, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this

I’m a nurse, and we have to work on holidays. Did anyone think about the nurses, doctors, emergency workers, police officers and other essential personel that are available 24/7. We would love to have time off on a holiday to be with our families, but are there for everyone else. so if a store wants to be open on christmas, let them, so i can stop on the way home after working all night long to get something from the store.

By Jen

December 25, 2008 12:56 AM | Link to this

Employees normally get paid time and a half or double for having to work on Christmas Day and/or Thanksgiving. Some employees would welcome the extra cash. Leave the decision up to the stores.

By Cletus Snow

December 25, 2008 2:06 AM | Link to this

Stores should do as they please. we should be made aware of schedule changes in order to allow us to make purchases. They have just as much right to spend time with their famiies as anyone. Working at a grocery store shouldn’t make them different from the rest of us. Get real plan ahead, buy it ahead of time and keep it in the fridge.

By rid0617

December 25, 2008 2:08 AM | Link to this

Yes they should be required to close for Christmas. We constantly hear how we are supposed to do things to respect Islam, so it’s payback time to do something to respect Christianity. Besides, just because the owner may not recognize Christmas that doesn’t mean neither does every employee. If your not smart enough to have everything you need knowing a year in advance Christmas is coming that’s your tough luck.

By Frank

December 25, 2008 2:24 AM | Link to this

No - they should not be REQUIRED to close on Christmas. If they want to close; good for them. If they want to stay open; more power to them. Not everyone spends christmas with their families or even have families to spend the time with so why not work and make some more money? If my company was open on Christmas, I would be volunteering to work the day.

By juicius

December 25, 2008 2:32 AM | Link to this

I understand that Christmas is a major Christian holiday, although it’s an arbitrary date unrelated with the actual birth of Jesus, heavily commercialized and promoted in contrast to certain Christian values and in direct support of certain deadly sins. Those who celebrate Christmas engages in idolatry of a red-robed character of dubious Biblical heritage who steals into the house unseen at night, but hey, it’s all in good fun, right?

If you are a devout Christian, there are so many other things about Christmas you could take issues with, but some of you here apparently think stores opening on “Xmas” is a grave problem.

Let me suggest that, if you believe Christmas is a day for family, YOU spend it with YOUR family, and keep YOUR rear away from few stores that are open. Do not attempt to dictate to others who may not even follow your religious idiosyncrasies what to do with their day.

I mean, seriously, I agree that the Christmas has been stolen and diluted, but not by stores being open on that date.

By Steve

December 25, 2008 3:05 AM | Link to this

I think all stores should be closed on ALL major holidays with the exception of emergency services. I also think the same for Sunday. Even though I am a Christian, it has nothing to do with that, so all you self-righteous anti-Christians out there don’t get all bent out of shape.

Family values are disappearing in the country because there is ALWAYS something to do and someplace to go. I think it all started with the greed of being open an hour longer than your competitor, then a day, then on major holidays (even non-religious ones).

Are we so pathetic as a people that we can’t just assign one day a week and a few days a year as a day where stores are closed and everyone relaxes a little bit. You can’t tell me you couldn’t get by without some groceries or a trip to the movies, or to the electronics store one day a week? I actually feel sorry for the people who would like those days off but can’t get them, because of how screwed up this country has become.

I don’t care what religion, non-religion, race, or nationality you are .. the country should shut down for one day a week so that everyone can have those days. Sundays makes the most sense, because many faiths, not just Christians, view that as a holy day, and the atheists and the people waiting on Xenon, or Vigo the Butch, shouldn’t care.

The problem is, not everyone can ‘select’ from a host of jobs which give them the days off they would like. Shut everything down and be done with it, then everyone can plan on doign the family things that one day a week. And if you want to be open on Sunday because you are a greedy SOB, then enjoy paying a whopping fine to support our government and our countries infrastructure you pathetic excuse for a human.

As a consumer, I actually try to visit companies that stay closed on Sundays, and it’s too bad many people don’t stick up for their beliefs by doing the same thing. Stop shopping on Sundays, which will drive profits down, and maybe that way we can make a stand. Instead, everyone moans about how we shouldn’t work on certain days, and then goes out and does the exact opposite of what that ideology supports by shopping on those same days. There far more people in this country that view Sunday as a holy day than those that don’t, so if everyone would put their money where their mouths are, and follow their faith as they should, the impact would be huge on these companies.

By C

December 25, 2008 3:59 AM | Link to this

I think stores should be closed Christmas and Thanksgiving. The store employees deserve to spend time with their families. My suggestion is people prepare or do without.

By bonehead

December 25, 2008 7:15 AM | Link to this

I am looking for a store this Christmas morning to save me from a major desert goof-up..never try new recipes on the holidays. Hope I can find a store open this morning for a quick box cake!

By ladydogfan

December 25, 2008 7:24 AM | Link to this

It simply amazes me that all of you have had and taken the TIME to write these comments, when many of you have insisted that this holiday is important in regards to spending TIME with your families… Also the tone of some of these responses from so-called religious people sounds anything but charitable. Practice what you preach and set a good example…

By GA Peach

December 25, 2008 7:41 AM | Link to this

Maybe the government should mandate all businesses be open on all holidays.

By Michael

December 25, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this

Come on, even atheists believe in Christmas! And holiday pay beats regular pay! I remember back in the 80’s Kroger paid more if I worked Sundays so i gladly took shifts for whomever wanted to serve god instead.

Jesus’ birthday … you Xians are crazy!

By Antonio

December 25, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

I believe they should be open, along with the malls and pharmacies.Like Mrs. Besser said, the movie theaters, hotels, and restaurants are all open. Im a chef at an Atlanta area Marriott and having access to an open store can be a life saver or should I say holiday saver. How many times have you had a holiday party on X-mas only, to find out you forgot something. You are doing 80 million things on that day and it is very easy to forget about somethings. Ask your self have you or a family member have ever done that, chances are yes.

By Dee

December 25, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

I believe that most consumers are aware of store closings on Thanksgiving and Christmas and have made great efforts to stock up the day before. Yes, everyone needs a break from time to time. I applaud Chic-Fil-a for their efforts for closing on Sundays.

By Chuck Quinlan

December 25, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

Stores open. A couple of years ago on Thanksgiving my wife and I were standing at the checkout line and overheard the bagger and cashier talking about their “double time” over time for working that day. The cashier mentions 268.00 for one day and the bagger said 198.00 for one day. Yes in the spirit of Christmas they do need time off for the holiday. Maybe I can get a job for one day??

Chuck Cumming Georgia

By JackP

December 25, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

You people who are complaining about private business opening on x-mas are idiots. Get a life. No one is forcing you to go to a store. In America you can make your own decision. The financial system in our country is facing bankruptcy and you are worried about such trivia.

By Edward

December 25, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

All of the arrogance, bitterness, hate, anger, and vitriol being spewed by the so-called christians in this forum is rather humorous to those of us who aren’t christian.

By Ron

December 25, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

They are private businesses that can make up their own mind. You idiots that think government involvement is required are insane. These are private businesses and should dictate their own hours not some screwed up government that can’t do their own job correctly.

By a non-Christian

December 25, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

This story and some of the comments are just incredible. You people who want to force your religious views on me are the same ones who spread fear over Muslim fundamentalists enforcing Islamic law on citizens in the middle east. You religious nuts can all go to h### as far as I’m concerned.

By Darrell

December 25, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

What gets me is that Christians just assume that everyone has the same belief that they do. Well they don’t. And in a city with such a diverse population why would you be so harsh on people that don’t think or believe what you do? There are many people in this city that DO NOT celebrate XMAS So keep your beliefs in your home or your church where they belong and allow the rest of the population to spend the day as they see fit. If this means they want to open their business so be it!! I for one wish someone would open up so I could get out of the house without having this holiday shoved down my throat like aspirin Every hour on the hour. It gets really old!

By littlebird

December 25, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

As a retired grocery store manager I think is is appropriate to close the store at 6 p.m. Dec. 24 and not re-open until 8 a.m. Dec. 26. I spent many holidays at the store when I should have been with family and friends that are no longer alive, when you look back and think you’ll agree! If the store charged you double or triple if they were open, would you still wait to the last minute? No, I think everyone of you would make sure you shopped ahead of time.

By deidre_NC

December 25, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

it really doesnt matter if you are christian or not…i bet even if you arent you still celebrate christmas…get real…i know there are some (emergency workers etc) who have to work on christmas..but really there needs to be a time when everyone can spend a day with family…christian or not…

By CWilder

December 25, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Since I’m retired I don’t care if stores are open or not. I have found in the past, that if I forget something I can usually get it at a convenience store. But I start stocking up on EVERYTHING at Thanksgiving, so by Christmas Eve I usually have at least two of everything.

By shaggy

December 25, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

OK. This is a rather idiotic question and topic. Stores are businesses that exist to make a profit. If they see a way and have the resources willing to make a profit by being open on Christmas, or any other day, that is their decision. If stores open on Christmas (or any other day) bothers you so much, DON’T GO THERE AND SPEND MONEY. Guaranteed, they won’t keep doing it. Why is that you morons? Answer: There won’t be any profit in it, dimwits.

By Falcons Fan

December 25, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

I wish all the stores would remain closed, just like they were in the good ole days. Nevertheless, whatever they decide will not affect my faith in the true meaning of Christmas, the most recognized holiday in the world. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good five-day weekend. For you non-Christians, I wish you all the happiest of holidays!!

By sonja

December 25, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

Please stop blaming diversity for the reason why stores are open on holidays instead of the almighty dollar. I agree, there should be certain days where people get to spend with the families. Christian or not, who wouldn’t want the day off. I remember when Ronald Reagan died and the president called for all government employees to be off the day of his funeral. I am not and never have been a big Ronald Reagan fan. I was sad for his family, however, enjoyed the day off.

By Rambin' Wreckage

December 25, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

Shaggy - I understand your point, but as a Christian, I personally feel there are some things more important and bigger than profits. However, I’m not losing sleep about stores being open and might even try to pick up some egg nog today. :)

By sonja

December 25, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

To add something else, my daughter is at work now at a restaurant. She called and said they are extremely slow. It’s costing this company more money to be open.

By MANGLER

December 25, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

God I have to get out of the bible belt and move some place where people have progressed beyond the 1950’s.

By MIKE

December 25, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

Most grocery stores are open 364 days a year, if you can’t plan Christmas dinner any better than that you deserve to run out of that one last thing.i work at a major grocery store here in Atlanta, these people that want stores openall year round have never worked in the retail business in there lifes, they get most holidays off, Now this does not count for military,plice and fireman.They work no matter what the day, my hats are off for these men and women.

By wornoutgroceryelf

December 25, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Im not agreeing that we should be open on Christmas Day for those of you who cant be bothered (or who cant hang up the cellphone long enough to check your pantry…or pay attention to your kids, but thats another story), but here it my reality check for you.

It probably wont be so bad (yeah the money is ok, as long as something is left over from taxes), but you would walk into the store, all stressed out with a chip on your shoulder (the only holiday spirit you’ve got came out of a bottle), ready, willing and able to jump on the hardworking, worn out, much more stressed employees because they too are out of something (dah, its Christmas Day, what were you thinking? oh thats right, we are here to serve you).

And as your parting gift, you are gonna raise heck, complain to that employee’s stressed out, tired boss all possibly costing them their job (you think you can do this any better? let me give you my apron)

Yeah Merry Christmas to us!! hope your cookies burn!!!

Please give us the gift of enjoying our families and friends (or just the peace and quiet of our homes) Plan ahead, chill out, enjoy the day!

By Todd

December 25, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

To all you morons who have nothing better else to do than comment on whether a store should be open or not should go play in traffic. Isn’t there other more important issues we should be concerned with like what the Obamas’ ate for dinner?

By wornoutgroceryefl

December 25, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Well Todd, hope you are counting yourself amongst us morons, since you are not only reading this, but commenting too.

Im not giving this any more importance than a mild entertainment, trust me, I know there are more important things in the world, this is just a diversion

And since your bring up the President Elect and his family, was wondering if there is a holiday dish featuring spam? LOL

By Capt. Jack

December 25, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

Give employees a break. Let them go home to their families. Are we Americans so spoiled that we can’t do without something we forgot to buy on Christmas Eve for one day??? And as for the different religions, who cares why we get a day off, just be thankful for the day off.

By Chris

December 25, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

FORMER KROGER CASHIER I worked for Kroger in High School as a cashier. Christmas day is the only day we got off. We did not get paid to be off but we did get off. I agree with the stores being closed. No one should have to work. If you do not celebrate then fine with me but just have a day of rest. Americans need one day a year to get back to center if that is even possible.

By David S

December 25, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this

Although fascism has made significant inroads in our economy, there is still a little thing called freedom. Just when did the supermarkets beocme owned by the general public? They are private enterprises that can decide for themselves whether or not there is sufficient money to be made and adequate staff to support being open. The mere suggestion that they be forced to be open is so disgustingly UNAMERICAN that it is pathetic.

Laws that prevent liquor sales this day or prevent anyone from being open are also FASCIST and unamerican. There are plenty of non-christians who would have no problem being at work today just as most christians would have no problem working on Yom Kippur. Even eastern orthodox christians don’t see this day as christmas.

Freedom means just that. Plan ahead, respect other’s rights to property and persons and lets try and use the coming year to restore america to its freedom roots and away from the clear and obvious socialist and fascist direction the republicans and the democrats have been taking us.

By wornoutgroceryelf

December 25, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU to those first responders and health care employees who work on Christmas Day and every other day, if not for you….we wouldnt be as safe and snug in our beds, sugar plums dancing in our heads (and tummies)

By Michelle

December 25, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

It is amazing to me that people get so worked up and ugly on these blog responses. On a national holiday.

By David S

December 25, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

The observation you made about the marketplace and demand deciding the issue is exactly the reason why GOVERNMENT control of anything is a failure and why the free market can solve all issues.

Were there no demand, there would be no open stores, theaters, etc. Were the government to decide, there might be HUGE demand that would go unserved, or dozens of open stores with no customers. Why can’t you people see that when the marketplace is left to decide in the absence of government regulation and control the customers needs are met in a voluntary and cooperative way and when the government is involved there is force and violence? It is a simple matter that the founders of this great nation attempted to embody in this once great nation.

How can a government body, listening to the whining of some bible thumping religious groups really know what the marketplace wants. Just look at Sunday alcohol sales. The customers want it, but the religious groups and the government-created alcohol distribution monopoly in this state don’t want to have to staff stores on sunday. If there were no monopoly on sales, there would be hundreds of stores selling booze on sunday and hundreds of thousands of purchases.

Whenever you get the government involved, freedom and the consumer lose.

By Csquared

December 25, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this

Let’s forget retail stores for a moment. i could care less one way or the other since most Holidays I’ve had to work (think TV and newspaper workers while you’re talking about folks that have to work on the holdiay) Can someone please tell me why GOVERNMENTS across the country take Christmas off? Separation of Church and State seems to make this an issue. It respects one religion over another, which was completely against what the Founding Fathers seemed to want.

By Big Juicy

December 25, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this

No.

By Big Juicy

December 25, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this

Csquared, I hope you got some history books for Christmas because you need them. The founding fathers knew no such thing as seperation of Church and state and Abraham Lincoln himself said that this country could possibly be in the peril its in because it has forgotten its God.

By jm

December 25, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

And I also think that the stores should be closed so that the employees can have a day off w/their families/friends. But it should not be up to the government…just the stores themselves. I like the fact that Truett Cathy has all of the Chick-Fil-A’s stores closed on Sundays.

And once again…

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

By TERRI

December 25, 2008 6:45 PM | Link to this

I WORK IN THE GROCERY INDUSTRY. CHRISTMAS IS THE ONLY DAY OF THE YEAR WE CLOSE. WE CLOSE SO THAT OUR EMPLOYEES MAY SEND TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES ON THIS DAY REGUARDLESS OF THEIR RELIGION. IF THE PATRONS OF THE STORES IN THE GROCERY INDUSTRY WOULD JUST REMEMBER WE WORK THERE FOR THE SAME REASON THAT THEY WORK WHERE THEY WORK. WE DESERVE THE SAME CONSIDERATION FROM THEM, TO RESPECT THIS.IF YOU HAVEN’T PURCHASED SOMETHING BY CLOSING TIME YOU REALLY DON’T NEED IT. YOU HAVE HAD 364 DAYS TO GET THIS ITEM. YOU WON’T DIE WITHOUT IN THE NEXT 36 HRS. IF IT IS LIFE OR DEATH REALLY YOU SHOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING WHEN WE TOLD YOU WE WERE CLOSED INSTEAD OF CUSSING ME OUT WITH EVERY BAD WORD IN YOUR VOCAB.YOU ARE SPOILED. GET OVER IT. I REALLY DON’T CARE THAT YOU GO TO THE OTHER STORE. I JUST HOPE THAT YOUR FAMILY HAS A GREAT HOLIDAY. AND HAVE A SAFE TRIP ACROSS THE STREET. THEY HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE REOPEN .THEY CLOSED ALSO.

By pgurlatl

December 25, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this

Don’t pay attention to so called Christians. Christmas is not in the Bible so they are celebrating a pagan holiday according to their own jacked up rules.

And during the wrong time of year.

By kay

December 25, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this

Yes for a limited time of 4-6 hrs 10am - 6.

By lois

December 25, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this

who cares, food is not that important that people can’t wait for the store to reopen. please!!!!! i don’t believe in christmas even though i am a christian. christmas…. there is no such thing. people celebrate it because of tradition. look it up and see where it come from. Christ was not born in Dec. He was born in the fall of the year. and if it was his birthday why are poople giving each other gifts????!!! he told no one to celebrate his birthday it is so pagen!!! so it don’t bother me that they close. nor am i a big eater. i am free of stressing out to make sure i please people with gifts. i have not celebrated this christmas foolishness in 24 years. you are in bondage if you celebrate. why do you have to have one day set aside to give a present base on a lie in the first place. just look into it you will be shocked to know that you are celebrating something that do not exist!!!!

By Dee

December 25, 2008 7:55 PM | Link to this

Why aren’t those who want places open so they can get their crucial, but forgotten, ingredient working? You don’t have a problem with others working a holiday, so why don’t you do it? Would you feel different if the tables were turned? The way things are today, people are just trying to get a job and not able to pick and choose where the work based on holidays. Christmas is considered a federal holiday for everyone no matter their religion. Are we going to stop seeing anything from the past as sacred? If we are going to have places open on Christmas, why not just wipe all holidays off the calendar and everyone work 365 days a year? I would be offended if Christmas was dropped as a holiday but other holidays were not.

Is anyone else getting tired of everyone else’s religious rights being more important than Christian rights? If a place chooses to stay open because the owners are not Christians, then they should only require non-Christian to work. Then they can deal with the discrimination suits. Its not all black in white because a Christian may feel they are discriminated against because they are not allowed to celebrate their religious holiday. At the rate we are going, no one will have rights because everything will infringe on someone else’s rights.

By dell

December 25, 2008 7:59 PM | Link to this

Im retired now, but I worked for a company that gave us from the 24th to the 2nd off every year, with pay. They would also post a list for people who wanted to work through the holidays, for triple time. Needless to say, most of the people would sign the list, and get into arguments if their seniority was not honored so that they could work. We had to make it mandatory that the 24th, 25th, and 26th were days that no one could work, because employees wanted to work on Christmas Day. It took us about 15 years to get those days off with pay, and the company came back with 3 times the pay if you work,and it was all for loss, because the employees preferred the pay, to the time off with the family.

By Who Cares

December 25, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this

If they want to stay open fine…if they want to close fine…I have no problem with either! Happy Holidays!

By SophyB

December 25, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this

XMAS EXPLAINED - for those fellow Christians ignorant of the history of their faith & those non-Christians who like to use it to irritate them:

Many Christians do not understand their own iconography and symbolism. The results are often battles waged against windmills while far more consequential issues for the Faith are neglected (not including stores being open or closed on Christmas!!)

I have no doubt that some people write “Xmas” because they are too busy or too lazy to write out the whole word. And no doubt some secular people, who are just as uninformed as Christians, see “Xmas” as a way to avoid writing “Christ.” And certainly there are secular and commercial motives in the fact that “XMAS” appears in ads and signs because it can be larger and more attention getting in the same amount of space (more bang for the buck). But those factors do not take away the thoroughly Christian origin of the word “Xmas.” In this instance, all of the hype and hysteria over supposedly taking Christ out of Christmas by writing “Xmas” instead of spelling out “Christmas” is both uninformed and misdirected.

Abbreviations used as Christian symbols have a long history in the church. The letters of the word “Christ” in Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written, or various titles for Jesus early became symbols of Christ and Christianity. For example, the first two letters of the word Christ are the Greek letters chi and rho. These letters were used in the early church to create the chi-rho monogram , a symbol that by the fourth century became part of the official battle standard of the emperor Constantine.

By the fifteenth century Xmas emerged as a widely used symbol for Christmas. In 1436 Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with moveable type. In the early days of printing typesetting was done by hand and was very tedious and expensive. As a result, abbreviations were common. In religious publications, the church began to use the abbreviation X for the word “Christ” to cut down on the cost of the books and pamphlets. From there, the abbreviation moved into general use in newspapers and other publications, and “Xmas” became an accepted way of printing “Christmas” (along with the abbreviations Xian and Xianity). Even Webster’s dictionary acknowledges that the abbreviation Xmas was in common use by the middle of the sixteenth century.

So there is no grand scheme to dilute Christianity by promoting the use of Xmas instead of Christmas. It is not a modern invention to try to convert Christmas into a secular day, nor is it a device to promote the commercialism of the holiday season. Its origin is thoroughly rooted in the heritage of the Church. It is simply another way to say Christmas, drawing on a long history of symbolic abbreviations used in the church. In fact, as with other abbreviations used in common speech or writing (such as Mr. or etc.), the abbreviation “Xmas” should be pronounced “Christmas” just as if the word were written out in full, rather than saying “exmas.” Understanding this use of Christian symbolism might help us modern day Xians focus on more important issues of the Faith during Advent, and bring a little more Peace to the Xmas Season. (With thanks to Dennis Bratcher!)

By i dont care

December 25, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this

I don’t mind if store is open or not I went shopping yesterday and got what I needed. We don’t celebrate Christmas, we are Muslims so, my kids do not go to school if our holidays are on a weekday also ,my husband who works in a hospital works all the holidays except our two holidays.

By bulldogbubba

December 25, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this

To those who work in the grocery stores I salute you!!!I worked 13years at Food Giant and 17years at Ingles as a manager and no one knows how much we sacrifice to serve the public.Those who think closing down a store for one day is terrible and we are bellyachers are the idiots.If any of you haven’t had the pleasure working all holidays in a store then keep your opinions to your self.You have no clue as to what we go through to serve you the paying customer. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

By Jack

December 26, 2008 2:18 AM | Link to this

Honestly, I liked going into work on Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, all these other holidays. I was born and raised in Atlanta, but I am not Christian. I have no problem saying Merry Christmas, but I don’t celebrate the holiday myself. I do not have a family to spend the time with due to tragedy, and frankly working on these holidays helps me get through it a lot better than sitting at home doing nothing and remembering that I don’t have a family.

I happily work on Sundays and religious holidays so my coworkers who DO celebrate the holidays don’t have to. Why am I so evil according to a lot of the Christians in this blog? Why do you hate me for not wanting to take your holiday as a day to “relax” and reflect on my loss?

I think it should be up to the businesses. The government should not take a perfectly valid work day away from me just because other people think I shouldn’t be working. Let me make that decision, thank you.

By Steve

December 26, 2008 6:07 AM | Link to this

You people just don’t get it. It’s not about those of us who don’t think stores should be open on Christmas just not going to them and let them have their profits. It’s about many people in this country having to take whatever job they can to get by. Their reward for working a blue-collar job is to not have a chance to spend time with families on days they would like because they are either forced to work or they face being fired. Have you ever thought that maybe they have young kids that they would like to experience the joy of the holidays with but they can’t because of the greedy big companies around this country.

Think about yourselves for more than once in your life and you might understand this. And just because a few high-schoolers love getting away from their family to make a little extra money doesn’t mean everyone does. Some people might want to be home for their child’s first holiday season, and like others have said, almost everyone does something family based over the holidays, religious or not.

As for those of you who wished you lived in a section of the country that has moved out of the 1950’s, what’s stopping you? Maybe the fact you might not be able to find a job if you were able to do want you talk abotu doing? Now apply that logic to this situation and maybe you will begin to understand why many people feel there should be one day a week where everything closes down. It’s really not asking too much, and if you think it is, your idea of quality of life is rather pathetic.

By Gavin Volaire

December 26, 2008 6:54 AM | Link to this

Jeanne, Why did you continue calling supermarkets after finding one that was open? I’m calling BS on your pecan story but you certainly got us talking. GV

By Sammy

December 26, 2008 6:56 AM | Link to this

I think it should be by choice, like someone said earlier about staying home and watching football or basketball on tv. The people that have to work those games no one tends to fell sorry for them, but I’m sure they would like to spend the day with their family. As for the players themselves they make so much money they should have to play everyday. I will add this I worked on Christmas years ago back when they had full service gas stations and I made very good money that day on Christmas tips so I would had voluntereed to work again the following Christmas but I no longer worked there I moved to GA.

By Meme

December 26, 2008 6:56 AM | Link to this

I grew up in a Mom and Pop store environment. We opened the store 7 days a week so that the family could survive. I think if a store wants to open on any holiday, it should.

By Bob

December 26, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this

I guess it is alright for stores to be open on Christmas unless they force employees to work on that day. Then the employee should sue… he or she would win.

By Merry Christmas

December 26, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this

My son worked at an Atlanta area Krocery store (no names mentioned) and I remember bringing him (and his friends) plates of food on Thanksgiving - when he asked for Christmas off a month or so in advance they said yes…..we bought airline tickets for him to go see his Dad for Christmas….then they told him he had to work on Christmas - when he said he could not his options were “QUIT OR BE FIRED - IF YOU QUIT THAN YOU CAN COME BACK IF YOU ARE FIRED YOU CANNOT COME BACK”.

By Boog

December 26, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this

How about the people who work at the TV and radio stations, and the people who work at the cable channels and cable TV providers? Don’t they deserve to have the day off, too? If you guys are really serious, everyone should be home together with the TV and radio off. Would you like that?

By kennyg

December 26, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

NO! Nothing to explain either.

By Justme

December 26, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

I agree with people needing and deserving the day off to be with family. I think stores should be open “part” of the day, say 12-6pm. However, in these hard economic times, it might be beneficial for people to work on Christmas and Thanksgiving. Most employers pay double or triple time to people to who work on these holidays and at $10 per hour (triple it to $30 an hour) times 6 hours…..well, you do the math. The extra money will come in handy for those that have trouble paying their bills due to financial troubles. These people should be allowed to work if they want to. That extra pay will enable them to pay an important bill or provide some Christmas gifts to their children that they might not have been able to afford had they taken the day off.

By CommonSenseRules

December 26, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

Yes, folks who work in grocery stores have families, as do flight attendants, airline counter personnel, firefighters, gasoline convenience store workers, 24-hour pharmacy clerks… . You get the picture. As for Jo’s suggestion of closing on Chanukah, I say humbug! Shall we close on Eid ul Fitr, Diwali and Sangha Day as well?

By Reality

December 26, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

The holiday Christmas is a hybrid of pagan winter solstice celebrations and the birth of Jesus. Google winter solstice; enlighten yourselves. Sacredness is relative. “Bringing trees indoors to decorate is a modern custom. Nova Roma suggests decorating outdoor trees with sun and star symbols, and using swathes of greenery over doorways, windows, and on people. But Nova Roma emphasizes that decorations are secondary to revelry, feasting, drinking, merry-making, pranks, and gift-giving of Saturnalia. If you can get your friends and neighbors in the spirit, wrangle a parade permit from your municipality so you can dance (like a Roman) in the street.”

By Cook4 me

January 12, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this

Stores should be closed on holidays. I work in the medical field and I would love to be off on the holidays, so I’m sure even those who don’t celebrate wouldn’t object to an extra day off. I know I wouldn’t.