Hits: 18
by Heather Green
In today’s society where we have come to expect instant gratification, much thanks to the Internet, social media, and superstores which are open 24/7/365, it seems an anomaly to think that any business is closed on Sunday. Even Amazon delivers on Sundays and Holidays, including Christmas Day and Easter Day. Some businesses, such as Sam’s Club and Costco do observe religious holidays, but it seems to be more the norm that businesses, restaurants included, are subscribing to the trend to be open regardless what the day or date is on the calendar.
It used to be that car dealerships were closed on Sundays, as well as furniture stores, and alcohol sales were limited on Sunday. But even they have transitioned to being open regardless of the day. That’s why there are two businesses in particular that stand out as being different: Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A.
Hobby Lobby has come under fire many times in the media for its strictly conservative views. They express their devout Christian values in the merchandise they sell, as well as the options for their employees’ benefits packages. The company’s mission statement begins with “Honoring the Lord in all we do by operating the company in a manner consistent with biblical principles,” and ends with, “we believe that it is by God’s grace and provision that Hobby Lobby has endured. He has been faithful in the past, we trust Him for our future.”
Chick-fil-A has also come under heavy criticism in recent news for being anti LGBTQ groups, and despite the fact they are widely supportive of the military and first responders, they rarely get the positive recognition they deserve. Each franchise of the chain is expected to follow the tenet that “All Operators and their Restaurant employees should have an opportunity to rest, spend time with family and friends, and worship if they choose to do so…That’s why all Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays. It’s part of our recipe for success.”
This is not to say that a lot of small businesses are not closed on Sunday. There are numerous “Mom and Pop” stores, such as Golden Shoes in Palos Heights that still observe the old tradition of being closed on Sunday. If recent trends continue, we can only wonder if all stores will have to be open on Sunday to remain competitive and if the success of Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A are merely anomalies to this trend.