Open Christmas Eve

Barb andamp; Betty’s Hallmark, 1-4 p.m.

Barbara Jeans, 10-4

Bella, 7 a.m. -8 p.m.

Betty’s Books, noon-4 p.m.

Crossroads, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

De Ja Vu, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Geiser Grand Gift Shop, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

J Tabor Jewelry, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mad Matilda’s, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Marilyn’s Music Plus, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ryder Bros. Stationery, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sane Janes, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Bi-Mart, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Rite Aid, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Radio Shack, 9 a.m.-?

Dollar Tree Store, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Dandamp;B Supply, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Albertsons, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Safeway, 5 a.m.-6 p.m.

By MIKE FERGUSON

Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday this year, a calendar quirk that poses a puzzle for some Baker City merchants:

Do I keep my store open Sunday to cater to the 11 percent or so of shoppers who don’t even make a move at their Christmas shopping list until Dec. 24?

Or do I close the store and begin to enjoy the holiday with my family and friends?

At least a dozen downtown merchants are choosing to cater to area procrastinators or assist with unexpected shopping needs (like that annoying relative who shows up without notice) by keeping their stores open, at least during the afternoon hours on Christmas Eve.

It’s not without some personal sacrifice.

andquot;With Christmas Eve coming on a Sunday, it’s doubly hard to stay open,andquot; said Ann Mehaffy, program manager at Historic Baker City. andquot;People are knocking themselves out to stay open now more than ever.andquot;

Mehaffy said it’s hard to know whether store owners will find it worth their while to remain open on Sunday, the very last day for Christmas shoppers.

andquot;I polled some of our members who were open last Sunday. Some did well, and others said it was just OK,andquot; Mehaffy said. andquot;It’s a great mysteryandquot; how they’ll do Christmas Eve.

Part of the mystery will be cleared up by how much snow falls this weekend. Slick roads often prevent last-minute trips to Boise or La Grande, Mehaffy said, and thus keep Baker City merchants busier.

Most merchants who plan to keep their doors open Sunday have kept regular Sunday hours during December. Last Sunday, not too many shoppers had taken to the streets, but store owners and clerks say they’re ready for them when they do this weekend.

The Crossroads Arts Center, for one, is trying out extended hours during December, including 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

According to Crossroads volunteer Nanci Sheppard, some shoppers take solace knowing they can purchase original works of art and various crafts from clocks made from hand-painted old LP records to handmade candles even at the last minute.

andquot;We had a man (Saturday) who spent about an hour and a half studying everything we have,andquot; she said. andquot;Finally he said, ‘What am I doing shopping today? I’ve still got next weekend.’andquot;

On a tour of items Crossroads artists are selling this Christmas, Sheppard dismisses the notion that buying someone art or other hand-crafted item is too personal and therefore should be avoided.

andquot;If you don’t know their taste, buy them a candle or a (refrigerator) magnet,andquot; she said. andquot;We’ve got something for just about any taste.andquot;

The De Ja Vu gift shop down Main Street plans 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. hours on Christmas Eve, said Judy Francis. She said she expects folks of both genders to use guidance from store staff to help them wrap up their shopping Sunday.

andquot;It’s not just men who come in here and say, ‘help!’andquot; she said. andquot;But we do have a pretty good selection, and we can help (last-minute male shoppers) if they know what their wives like.andquot;

Even if they don’t, they’re likely to find something on their list at an eclectic store like De Ja Vu, a store name that makes a pun out of the fact that the merchandise has been previously owned (dja vu is French for andquot;already seenandquot;).

Francis said the store resumed Sunday hours this month after staying open seven days a week throughout the summer, then dropping the practice in fall when Sunday business dwindled.

It’s been worth the effort, she said, to remain open Sundays in December. She’s not sure what to expect Christmas Eve.

andquot;I don’t think it’ll be a big rush, but we expect to have some people,andquot; she said.

Her best sellers heading into Christmas are jewelry and carnival glass, and shoppers are interested in other glassware created at least two generations ago. One kind, vaseline glass, (named for its color) glows at night because it’s made with a hint of uranium. The pieces in Francis’ store were manufactured before World War II; the war effort gobbled up all the nation’s uranium supply, so the radioactive element couldn’t be used in glassware anymore.

Tom Kulog, owner of Betty’s Books, said his store andquot;is famous for our last-minute shoppers.andquot; He and his wife Carolyn will keep their store open noon to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve, then close on Christmas Day and the day after to enjoy holiday time with their family.

andquot;Some people need that last-minute rush of adrenaline. I’m like that myself,andquot; Tom Kulog said of the last-minute shoppers who will visit the book store Sunday afternoon. andquot;They’ll say, ‘I’m looking for something that reminds me of so-and-so.’ A lot of times, we know the person they’re shopping for and we can make recommendations.andquot;

While Christmas Eve will be a busy time for the store owners and their employees, andquot;in a lot of ways it’s easier,andquot; Kulog said. andquot;People know they’ll get no special orders this late, so they’re doing more impulsive shopping and less evaluating.andquot;