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

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

[mek1959]

Safeway Inc. yesterday said that for the first time, it will open many of its supermarkets on Christmas Day, a move that triggered an angry protest from the union representing the grocer's Washington area employees.

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.

[Radix]

"My wife has worked many a Christmas Day at the hospital. We just schedule around it. No biggie."

I am glad she does. I had an accident with a kitchen knife a few years ago on Christmas day. I had to get a few stitches in my hand because of my clumsiness. I would have hated to wait for the next day while my hand was bleeding all over the place.

[Dog Gone]

I didn't know Randalls and Safeway were related. Here in the Houston area, Randalls is the store to shop if you like paying anywhere from 10% to 30% more for identical items.

Last year, no grocery store in the area was open. I think I noticed a sign at the local Krogers that said it would be open beginning at noon on Christmas, but I didn't pay much attention to it. I'll be out of town that day.

[Melas]

They do have the day off. The power plant runs by remote. There are people who work on call in case there is a problem.

No way in hell is the power plant unmanned. You couldn't begin to count the federal regulations alone that would violate.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

That is what I did last year. We run 24/7/365 because the cows don't take holidays. We run as light as possible but we still have to run. Last year I had no family to spend it with so I volunteered to work.

Much better then being alone or squirming uncomfortably as you try to celebrate with another family. Christmas is for families, something that is often overlooked by those who have them but not by those of us who don't.

[Melas]

And I'll try to remember the whipped cream because I don't think there are any Safeways in Texas.

It's a branding thing. Randall's and Thom Thumb are owned by Safeway and operate in Texas.

[asgardshill]

Christmas is for families, something that is often overlooked by those who have them but not by those of us who don't.

Bold type, tattoo it on your forehead. Well said.

[RightWhale]

That's right. If there were not enough customers to justify opening the store, the store would not open.

[shellshocked]

Let the Jews and Muslims work that day. No biggie.

[Dianna]

I find it hysterical that with all the things you could say about the commercialism of Christmas, people are worried about a grocery store being open.

Sorry to tell you folks, but most people in the US are not spending Christmas day in quiet contemplation and reverence for their Lord.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I think unless you have lived it you don't get it.

And while it used to be unusual for people to live alone it is becoming more and more common. Think of divorced parents that maybe this was not their year to have the kids.

Even if you go to church ( and many churches do not have a Christmas Day service only Christmas Eve) the service is only about an hour long at best. What do you do the rest of the time? Clean a empty house? For the love of mercy don't turn on the TV or you will be bombarded by pictures of happy families. You feel like the poor kid with his nose pressed against the candy store window. You can only look but not have.

And some people wonder why suicides rise around this time of the year.

And now that I have gone and depressed everybody, I feel better.

[luckystarmom]

Albertson's in Dallas was opened last Christmas. My mom was defrosting the turkey in the refrigerator. When she got it out to start stuffing it and getting it ready to cook, it smelled rotten.

We called lots of grocery stores, and the only one opened was Albertsons.

[luckystarmom]

My daughters spent their first Christmas in the pediatric ICU of the local hospital. My daughters are now 8, and we've started a tradition of taking cookies, coffee and hot chocolate to the nurses and doctors at the hospital on Christmas Eve. It's our way of saying thanks.

[Dog Gone]

My son was born a severely premature preemie on December 12, weighing less than 3 lbs. He was in the hospital on Christmas Day, of course, being tended to by an expert staff of people working that day.

That was one day short of 20 years ago, and I just sent him out to get some fried chicken because this thread is making me hungry.

[The South Texan]

Even the evil Super Wal-Mart in my area is closing at 6PM on Chritmas Eve and reopening at 6AM on the 26th.

[Major_Risktaker]

"Ah, one more "conservative" who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing!"

Great Quote!

I know the price of Safeway or Slaveway stock and it is was in a FREEFALL and trading sideways and down. (No Dividend)

I'll see if SWY falls below 17.26 the 52 week low and see if the 16.45 low on 21-Apr-03 is possible. (If so, Ouch!)

SWY is almost oversold and a short term buy to $19.75.

As for value, well Larree Renda is the problem at Happy Holiday (NO Merry Christmas) looks like money is more important than family Safweway.

Larree Renda, 45
Exec VP Retail Ops,
Human Resources,
Public Affairs,
Labor & Gov't
Relations,
Reengineering & Communications.

Larree has a great stock option benefit program and she is exercising and sell every chance she gets. (GREEDY)

INSIDER & RULE 144 TRANSACTIONS REPORTED - LAST TWO YEARS

When I lived in Italy (Roma and Napoli) everyday from 12 to 3 everything shuts down and the population goes home for lunch and family time.

I enjoyed the family life style and Christmas is truly Christmas in Italy.

[Terpfen]

Wait, wait. Why am I included in a ping with an opening quotation like THAT?

[Clemenza]

Safeway s-cks anyway. Larry's Market for MY Christmas Crab!

[hunter112]

You've described my feelings some Christmases, when I had no one with me. One Christmas, I even went into the office to work eight hours that day.

There's been talk on this thread about the great deal that employees will get by getting triple pay, but be assured, it won't be those who are making the highest hourly wages. It will be some apprentice who is at the bottom of the totem pole, with no seniority. She'll have to stand there at a checkout counter without her family because someone's Aunt Tilly forgot to buy Cool Whip the day before.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Most places ask for volunteers for days like this. It is better for moral. We do and usually have more then enough people sign up to keep things going. Some just like the money but for many it gives them something to do.

This year I do have someone to spend it with so I am trading Christmas for New Years.

[hunter112]

Yes, but if they don't get volunteers, then they have to start at the bottom of the ladder to get workers. I guess for the "lucky" ones, it beats not having a job at all. That's one of the reasons I've liked being a white collar worker, when I didn't have my own business, we always got the standard holidays off.

I'm not a Christian, but I do think that there are only a very few times in a year when an entire family that may be dispersed around the country can find the time to get together and catch up with each other. Christmas and Thanksgiving are pretty much it, along with the possibilities of the summer holidays. Safeway's new policy seems more anti-family than it does anti-Christian.