Central Ohio, about 5:30 p.m. tonight:

I heard a blurb on 610WTVN that Meijers Grocery Store(s) (don't know how many) would be closing down early on New Year's Eve. This is unusual since Meijers only closes down on Christmas Day - all other days they're open.

This personally affects my family as my brother works as a butcher there... Did anyone hear the full report tonight?

Thanks!

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 18, 1999

Answers

Don't go to the one on Cleveland Ave twice picked up Ice Cream that had thawed and then refreezed. Saw a Frozen pallet next to the food case and the outside product wasn't non to cold.

-- Buckeye (Heeee@Heeee.Haawww), November 18, 1999.

Actually the update on the same network has stated the reason is the employees want to be at home because of concerns about y2k...

The Sheeple are stirring...

-- squid (Itsdark@down.here), November 19, 1999.

Squid--

I heard the same thing. It's funny, because some poles indicate that the public has no concerns over y2k. Also, look at the stock market. No concerns whatsoever. My money is out of the market.

-- Larry (cobol.programmer@usa.net), November 19, 1999.

Funny I should surf this message board for the first time, and see Columbus mentioned! Yes, I heard the radio blurb this AM... Meijers is closing at 9PM on the 31st, and re-opening at 6AM the next day. I live down the road from one, but don't shop there often... I'd guess they won't have many people in there around then anyway.

-- CT (ceetee@ix.netcom.com), November 19, 1999.

Wondering if more people GI than is being advertised. I for one am keeping a very LOW profile locally. Making stops for can goods at different stores and paying cash. There has been a very successful campaign to turn the the GI's into the town fool. That might be an active plan to keep the issue of preparedness low profile to not spook the herd. The only thing that makes me doubt this idea is how few people shop for storage food.

Could also be like politics there are the active participants like the ones on this and the polly sites and the rest just flip a coin. In most things few people really take the time to GI on any side.

-- squid (Itsdark@down.here), November 19, 1999.

And may the land of DGI's (Ann Arbor) fall off the face of the earth!!!!!!!!

-- squid (Itsdark@doswn.here), November 19, 1999.

Harris Teeter (BIG southern grocery store) announced they would be closed New Years Eve to ensure all of their systems and facilites are functional.

R.

-- Roland (nottelling@nowhere.com), November 19, 1999.

Squid - GO BUCKS!!!

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 20, 1999.

http://detnews.com/1999/business/9911/19/11190056.htm

[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

[snip]

Friday, November 19, 1999

Meijer heeds Y2K concerns

Stores to close New Year's Eve due to workers' fears

Detroit News staff and wires

GRAND RAPIDS -- Meijer Inc. will close all of its stores and gas stations New Year's Eve because so many workers are worried about possible Y2K glitches at their homes.

It will be the first time the Grand Rapids-based mass merchant will close on New Year's Eve since it became a 24-hour operation in 1988.

Workers, including Meijer's 15,000 Metro Detroit employees, were informed of the policy change Thursday.

"District directors and store directors have been hearing anxiety about the home front," Meijer spokesman Steve VanWagoner said.

"And then there is the magnitude of the event itself," VanWagoner said of entering a new millennium. "It's the biggest event in our lifetimes and it was important to us that employees have an opportunity to celebrate with their families."

He said fears of absenteeism or Y2K-related problems with Meijer's own computers were not among the reasons for the closure.

As a privately held firm, Meijer declined to say how much the overnight hiatus will cost it in lost sales.

"We do have a pretty good idea of what that will be," VanWagoner said. "But all things considered we decided to go ahead with the decision."

Meijer's 127 outlets in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana will close at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 and reopen at 6 a.m. on New Year's Day. The stores normally are open 24 hours a day, every day except Christmas.

Each store employs about 600 people, VanWagoner said, though not all would be working the overnight shift. There will be a skeleton staff in each location, VanWagoner noted, stocking shelves and cleaning. He expects store managers will drum up some sort of in- house celebration for those who are on the clock at midnight.

Copyright 1999, The Detroit News

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-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), November 20, 1999.