KVOA

Posted: Dec 24, 2009 5:43 PM
Updated: Dec 24, 2009 7:02 PM

CORPUS CHRISTI -- Today is also a busy day for our local grocers.

They expected thousands of last minute dinner shoppers to cram through the doors.

That's why patience was the word of the day at the H-E-B Plus on Saratoga.

General Merchandise Leader Shelia Poorman said, "Everybody's got the Christmas spirit, we're just going to keep the Christmas spirit up and check them out as soon as possible."

The line looked long Thursday afternoon, but expected wait time was only five minutes.

That's because 100 employees are in the front to help out and all the lanes are open.

Most people are at H-E-B to buy items for their Christmas meals.

Things like ham, turkey and all the fixings.

One shopper we ran into, though, came only for the adult beverages.

And, a couple other customers were going non-traditional with their recipes.

Lea Ann Otto said, "We're having crown roast."

With two to three times more customers expected at the H-E-B Plus on Saratoga today, it was packed, but the busiest aisle, was the baking aisle.

Poorman said, "All of the baking items, you know the chocolate chips, your sugar your powdered sugar."

The crowded aisles didn't seem to bother most customers.

Last minute shoppers we talked to were filled with the Christmas spirit and some patience, of course.

Don No said, "Why not, it's kinda fun it's like the atmosphere here at this HEB, it seems like a lot of people are around it's kind of fun get to say hi to folks."

Cheryl Gonzalez said, "You just be courteous and kind and move out and let people go, you know, just sharing the Merry Christmas with everyone else."

Local HEB stores close around 8:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.