Not just McDonald’s: Denny’s, some Starbucks open on Christmas

McDonald’s won’t be the only restaurant chain with a presence on Christmas Day, as other chains open their doors to consumers who don’t celebrate the holiday or are doing so without home-cooked food.

“Denny’s is always open, including all 24 hours of Christmas Day,” the diner chain said in a statement.

In 2011, the company’s restaurants served more than 1.5 million guests on Dec. 25 -- the busiest day of the year for the second straight year.

The most trafficked Christmas hours for Denny’s? Between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The restaurant company said it also plans to open for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

“Whatever our guests’ preferences may be, we are here to serve all day and night,” said John Dillon, vice president of marketing and product development.

Over at IHOP, a majority will be open “all or some part of Christmas Day,” though individual restaurant managers will make the final call, according to spokesman Craig Hoffman. All of the restaurants will be open on New Year’s Eve and day.

Some Starbucks locations will be open, said spokesman Zack Hutson. Availability “varies depending on [the] neighborhood to meet the needs of our customer base,” he said.

Dozens of Del Taco stores will also operate on Christmas Day across California and Nevada.

Jack in the Box will keep all of its company-owned locations open on Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, said spokesman Brian Luscomb. Most franchised outlets will likely be serving guests as well, he said.

More companies are opening during holidays, hoping to grab consumers faced with an ever-expanding array of retail and restaurant options.

McDonald’s caught some flak this month after Ad Age published an internal memo from the company in which it urges franchisees to open on Christmas. On average, company-owned McDonald’s restaurants open on the holiday pulled in $5,500 in sales, according to the memo.

Workers pushed back on Wal-Mart after the giant retailer said it would offer doorbuster deals, normally reserved for Black Friday, on Thanksgiving instead.

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