Safeway to Open on Christmas (The unraveling of an American Tradition?)

The Washington Post ^ | 12/11/04 | mek1959

[cyncooper]

The rest of us could do without being subjected to your whipped cream fetish.

LOL

[mhking]

Are we, as a culture, going to start treating Christmas with the same disrespect?

As a whole? No.

But what do you tell someone who does not celebrate Christmas, owns a store, and wishes to open that day -- that he can't open? That's not the American way either.

[cyncooper]

We get your point. We simply disagree.

[Dog Gone]

The real issue is that an open grocery store is no threat to you, and it's no threat to Christmas or Christianity.

Now, if you told me that the shopping malls were going to be open, and that all companies were requiring office workers to be in the office, then you'd have a point.

Were you just as threatened and outraged when you heard that many quickiemarts stayed open on Christmas? How about some of the movie rental stores? Many of them open at noon. How is a grocery store suddenly the threat that will turn us into JUST LIKE A MUSLIM COUNTRY?

[elli1]

Yeh...railroaders get triple time for showing up on Christmas Day & I haven't heard anyone squawking about that.

[postliberal]

Um, more like an secular atheistic country. I'm against most businesses being open on Christmas, and other big holidays too for that matter... but I suspect Islamic countries are much more observant of their holy days, I bet if safeway was running under the Taliban, it would be quit dangerous to be open on Muslim holy days!

[asgardshill]

How is a grocery store suddenly the threat that will turn us into JUST LIKE A MUSLIM COUNTRY?

If they sell falafel? ;)

[RepoGirl]

That's before my time--I was born in 1984.

D'oh!!!

I was a junior in highschool in 1984.

Man, when did I get so old?

[SamAdams76]

Safeway will become the region's first -- and only -- major supermarket chain to operate stores on Christmas, one of the last holidays observed by U.S. grocers, which now routinely open on Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

Why? If they are the first and only supermarket chain to do this, then there is no compelling business reason to be the first one to do so. Now other supermarket chains will feel compelled to open as well so that the competition does not get the upper hand. All it takes is one and the rest will fall like dominoes.

I remember as a kid (which wasn't THAT long ago) where businesses would shut their doors by noontime on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, absolutely nothing was open except a few gas stations and maybe a convenience store or two. I remember one Christmas morning, my father drove around in vain for two hours looking for a place that sold batteries for a toy we got that year. Absolutely nothing was open and that's the way it should be. Nowadays just about every convenience store and restaurant is open on Christas Day and now you have last-minute shoppers thronging shopping malls well into Christmas Eve night. What kind of life is that? All the rush and stress. No wonder so few enjoy this time of year.

I refuse to participate in this madness. All my Christmas shopping is done. My decorations have been up for weeks and I'm just hanging out with a cup of egg nog, watching the tree lights blink and listening to Christmas music.

[freedomdefender]

How is a grocery store suddenly the threat that will turn us into JUST LIKE A MUSLIM COUNTRY?"""

In Muslim countries, they ignore Christmas and all stores stay open. I get the sense you folks want that to happen in America.

[chalkfarmer]

Thanks for an excellent response!

[asgardshill]

Rottweilers are republican; all cats vote nader.

What an offensive tagline! I'll have you know my cat threatened to put epoxy in the house door locks if I didn't vote for Bush on Nov 2! ;)

[Nuzcruizer]

"But what I am saying is that as long as we, collectively, hold to those beliefs, and that includes staying out of those stores that open on Christmas Day, then the specialness will not be gone -- not only that, but Safeway will recognize that it is not in their best interest, finacially or as a "good neighbor", to open then, and the madness will end." Wishfull thinking. That's what we said when stores began to open sundays. Now it's just another day. Actually here, stores can only open from 12-5 on Sundays, and not even Safeway can open Christmas day. Not this state. About 20 years ago, Jewish store owners always closed on Mondays. You don't see that happen anymore either. Some still close for some Hanika days.

[freedomdefender]

But what do you tell someone who does not celebrate Christmas, owns a store, and wishes to open that day"""

I tell him I won't be shopping there, because he ought to be respecting the traditions that have made America great. Our spiritual traditions are part of that. I've never suggested he should be prohibited by law from behaving the way the Muslim merchants do in London (stay open and totally ignore that it's Christmas) but I don't have to patronize him, and I don't have to respect him.

[asgardshill]

In Muslim countries, they ignore Christmas and all stores stay open.

They drink water in Muslim countries too. Does that mean if I take a swig of Ozarka right out of the bottle in the refrigerator, THAT MEANS I WANT AMERICA TO BECOME A MUSLIM COUNTRY TOO?!?!?

I get the sense you folks want that to happen in America.

Your sense is ignorantly wrong. It would be even more "Muslim-ish" (is that a word?) to use the power of government to mandate that all retailers remain closed on Christmas Day. Let the free market take care of those who want to open on Christmas Day - and it will.

[Dog Gone]

Why do you need to have Christmas eve or Christmas day off if you aren't a Christian? It makes no sense.

I am a Christian and I celebrate Christmas. I don't spend it in worship for 36 hours, and I don't insist that everyone else in the country do it, too.

[freedomdefender]

You'll be very comfortable in Saudi Arabia. All the stores are open on Dec. 25 and they don't treat the day as if it was any different from, say January 25 or February 25. You're so "tolerant" and PC that you're fine with having Christmas ignored by our culture, and all the stores open. How marvelously PC and diversity-honoring of you! I nominate you for an ACLU Red Ribbon Award!

[Dog Gone]

If everyone doesn't observe Christmas to YOUR standards, they are a liberal or a muslim.

Christmas is in no danger of being ignored by our culture. But I do appreciate the loving Christian tone you've expressed on this thread. It's been very sweet.

[Nuzcruizer]

Those that don't celebrate Christmas can do what they have always done when stores were closed Christmas day.
Nobody is telling them to celebrate Christmas. They can spend time with their families instead. Go fishing. Whatever. It's a day for Christians, and a day for familly and friends for non- Christians. It's always worked out ok in the past. But sure, lets take even more familly time away, then wonder why the American familly is so screwed up.

[unbalanced but fair]

While it may or may not be "a problem" for Safeway employees. it does set a precedent. Having worked for several different retailers, I can tell you that some big box discount retailers will follow suit.
Also, what if no employees volunteer? This isn't so far fetched. Most retail employees look forward to Christmas off after the long and late hours. Retailers would then simply schedule people, half of whom won't show up. You're right about a skeleton crew.
The retailers I worked for didn't pay overtime for holidays{non-union.} You got the day off with pay but had to work the day before and day after the holiday. If you worked the holiday, you simply got an extra day of pay. Of course you had to be full time.
I've heard that both Walmart and KMart are considering this. Having had to work 70-80 hours a week on a retail manager's salary at Christmas, I looked forward to the day off. It's the manager or assistant managers who will be stuck working that day.
So, think of us when you run out for that item you forgot.