WORKING ON CHRISTMAS: PAY IS GOOD

Closed blinds and closed signs were in place for many Cape Girardeau businesses Wednesday, but people looking for gas or entertainment were in luck.

A number of convenience stores, movie theaters and video stores were open during regular business hours on Christmas day, which many employees said resembled a normal workday with one main exception: more pay.

"There's not a day I can think of we're closed," said Scott Robison, an employee at Kidd's Gas & Convenience Store. "I don't mind because I need the money: double time."

The market was one of many convenience stores that opted to remain open on Christmas. The decision seemed to be a good one, as Robison kept confirming the store was open to callers wanting to pick up items while he accepted money for purchases from customers in the store.

"It's been steady today," he said. "If there were a lot of other stores open, we'd be slow."

Robison, who attends Southeast Missouri State University, said he had another incentive to work the holiday. "I figure if I work Christmas I'll be off New Year's," he said.

Bobby Tan, who owns SEMO Video, said he decided to open because his customers want to choose videos their guests want to see.

"We're open because of customer requests," he said. "Most of Christmas Day is just football and basketball. People don't know exactly what they're looking for because they don't know who'll be (visiting)."

Tan gave his employees the holiday off and worked the store with his wife. "The employees went home out of town," he said. "Me and my wife celebrated Christmas last night. We have no children, so we enjoy opening."

Many employees said they didn't mind being scheduled to work because they had celebrated the holiday earlier in the week.

"My family, we're not Christmasy people," said Julie Robison, a nurse's aide at Southeast Hospital. She said she celebrates Christmas with relatives, including both sets of grandparents, on the Saturday before Christmas and on Christmas Eve each year.

Michelle Schoenebeck, a Jackson High School student, also said working Christmas did not interfere with her holidays. "It doesn't bother me because we do Christmas Day in the morning," said Schoenebeck, who works as a cashier at Town Plaza Cinema 5.

She said the extra money made by working holidays also helped with school expenses.

Tan said owners decide to keep a business open when many others are closed because they want to keep their customers happy.