Stores look at options after blue laws change

Retail stores are asking themselves what time to open on Sundays when the repeal of blue laws goes into effect Sept. 13.

It did not take long for some to come up with an answer. Some are still thinking.

Wal-Mart spokesman Chris Neeley, adding that the retailer has supported the repeal since the start, said customers will find that they can buy whatever they want at both Aiken locations and the store in North Augusta starting Sept. 13. Until then, certain items like clothes and housewares are still restricted before 1:30 p.m. on Sundays.

On Tuesday, Aiken County Council shot down the laws but tacked on an amendment that the change not be implemented until September to allow stores time to adjust.

When the blue law repeal goes into effect, it will apply to the cities of Aiken and North Augusta, too.

Stores will not be forced to open or alter their operating hours if they do not choose to.

"Some businesses aren't going to change what they are doing. Some businesses might phase it (new operating hours) in, some will do it instantly and some only seasonally," said J. David Jameson, president and CEO of the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce. "This will give ... stores a choice. I bet a lot of them will fall into a noon pattern."

PetSmart has already said it will open at 10 a.m. Sundays.

Home Depot spokesperson Craig Fishel said the home improvement store's district leadership will meet soon to discuss what the appropriate time is for the store to open on Sundays.

A spokesperson with K-Mart said it prefers to operate under typical store hours which means an 8 a.m. Sunday opening time.

Bed, Bath & Beyond repeated the statement it gave last week, saying that it will consider the convenience of its Aiken customers as its primary concern in determining whether an earlier Sunday opening time is appropriate, but a determination has not yet been made.

Some are concerned that those who attend church services on Sunday will be forced to work, even though the County ordinance and state law recognizes that no person conscientiously opposed to Sunday work should be required to work and any such employee has the option to refuse to work.

River of Life Church Pastor John Zimmerman said that prior to coming to Aiken, he saw that on many occasions members of his church in Minneapolis were unable to attend Sunday services because of the necessity to work.

"Some employers would be understanding and not schedule employees that wanted to go to church to work on Sunday, but that then creates resentment toward those employees by the employees that do work Sunday. It is just not a good situation," he said.

But, what about those who do not have to work? Will they choose shopping over church?

"My personal thought is that people determine what is and is not important. Spirituality is not determined by one's faithful attendance to a worship gathering on a Sunday morning at 10:30. Faithfulness to God is the priority, not the church attendance. I agree that Christians should assemble together ... however, I believe that if one is having to support his/her family and Sunday is a work day, then I believe God understands," Aiken Church of Christ Minister Brian McCutchen wrote in an e-mail. "If church attendance drops off due to the stores opening earlier on Sunday, then I say we as churches need to do a better job shepherding the flock."

Jameson said he hopes consumers will think positively about this and remember that if retail dollars are spent outside South Carolina, the sales tax does not trail back to school children here.