The Campbell Reporter
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Kohl's gets OK to open early after Thanksgiving
By Koren Temple
Get ready for the early bird sales the day after Thanksgiving, Kohl's got the OK to open its doors at 5 a.m.
The planning commission approved a conditional use permit on Oct. 24 to allow the store, at the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Almarida Drive just off Highway 17, to open an hour earlier for its annual holiday sale.
"We are just asking for that one day of the year to open early, which is becoming a standard for many stores," said Jeff Adams, site development manager for Kohl's.
Kohl's is one of a number of stores in Campbell having day-after Thanksgiving door-busters. Mervyns on W. Hamilton Ave. and Fry's Electronics on E. Hamilton Avenue open at 5 a.m. every year, and both stores will continue that trend as holiday shopping kicks off with its traditional day-after Thanksgiving promotions.
Other chain stores in the area, such as Big 5 and Bed, Bath and Beyond, didn't have information on what time they would open, but store managers indicated they planned to open early. Information on hours will be posted outside the stores in the coming weeks.
Commissioners acknowledged many stores in the area do participate in the shopping spectacle, but questioned if it would stir up complaints from the public.
"What happens if the national trend is to stay open all night long? As we move forward, it can keep getting worse and worse," Planning Commissioner Michael Rocha said.
However, the planning department informed the commission the police department had received only minor complaints from residents since the store opened. Those complaints pertained to the vacuum sweeper working in the parking lot before 6 a.m.
Kohl's representatives said they contract out the work and would speak with the company.
"They seem to be a good neighbor," said Commissioner Bob Roseberry.
Discussion did arise about the actual hours the employees work in the store, which clouded the meaning of hours of operations. The representatives for Kohl's understood that to mean when the doors were open to the public, not when employees came in early or late to stock the shelves. The commissioners, however, interpreted that to mean when employees are actually at work.
Kohl's regional manager Tim Wellington said the store does overnight stocking just like grocery stores, but the process is invisible to the consumer.
Campbell Community Development Director Sharon Fierro said she was still concerned about doors slamming early in the morning while residents are trying to sleep. She questioned the intended hours of operation, reiterating that those hours start once employees are on the store site.
However, Commissioner Bob Alderete, who lives in a townhome complex near a major retailer, didn't see this as a problem.
"I live in the Pruneyard Villa on the Fry's side. It's never been an issue for us. We should let the enforcement mechanism work itself out," he said.
The commission agreed Kohl's would have to meet with the community development director to determine what time employees would arrive at the site when the store opens for business the day after Thanksgiving.
