European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 3, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday March 3, 1990 the stars and stripes a a a Page 9 Over Here Ramstein night owls May give a Hoot store will Cut hours by Deedee Arrington Doke Kaiserslautern Bureau Ramstein a West Germany a Dana Stambo considers herself Lucky to live on a military base where the commissary stays open after 6 . A was Long As they re open until 8, that a wonderful. Anything a better than closing at 5 or 6 in the afternoon a said Stambo who wheeled an overflowing. Shopping cart around the Ramstein commissary with her daughter Kim after Midnight one Day last week. Stambo a former commissary employee at a stateside store was shopping in the wee hours last week because it just happened to be convenient. But she is Only an occasional late night shopper who wont have to change her lifestyle when the Ramstein commissary cuts Back its 24-hour operation on sunday to 16 hours daily. The store which does about $3 million Worth of business a month will be open from 7 . To 11 . Air Force commissary officials announced the cutback in hours two weeks ago citing a Survey that showed Only 3 percent of Ramstein commissary patrons shopped Between 11 . And 7 . Commissary spokeswoman Diana Barnard said the stores Peak shopping hours Are 6 . To 10 . The commissary probably will not be open 24 hours again because the Experiment was a almost too successful a Barnard said. The extra business did no to warrant the round the clock Wear and tear. A the store and the equipment Are not adequately prepared for the volume a Barnard said. A the store just really needs a rest and to recuperate a Little bit. It was designed for $1.5 million Worth of volume and we re doing a Little Over $3 million a  one example of equipment overuse is the Ramstein stores 20 Cash registers. An average of three Cash registers done to work at any one time said capt. Larry Davis another commissary spokesman. Ramstein officials Are emphasizing preventive maintenance to help curb the problem. Commissary officials last summer compiled and Analysed checks written at the store Over three Days to learn More about patrons. Shoppers came from As far away As Paris but the highest number of out of area customers who wrote checks came from Wei Brincken Baum older Pir Masens and Miessau. Other communities represented at the store during the study included bit Burg bad Kreuz Nach Heidelberg Mainz and Wiesbaden. Late one Day last week each aisle at any one time had roughly three shoppers perusing the shelves. They included couples catching up on shopping after Bowling shift workers making Goodie runs for colleagues sleepy children in their pyjamas and churchgoers. And some such As army sgt. Charlyn Thomas just wanted to enjoy shopping without the lines and noise. A this is Solitude a Thomas said As she surveyed the aisles. A if you want to stand and look at toilet tissue half the night nobody a going to Bug  Thomas a single Mother also favored extended hours at the Ramstein or tar 4 amp % staff sgt. Michael Ekstrom. A i had a feeling it was going to come sooner or later. Not everyone was going to use it. A sgt. Charlyn Thomas. A if you want to stand and look at toilet tissue half the night nobody s going to Bug  Roger Lee. A there s going to be More room to work in without the customers  a amps photos Lynda Davidson Geoffrey Neal 8, catches 40 winks in a shopping cart while his Mother Kathy does some late night marketing at Ramstein. Store because local West German stores do not stay open late. A i think it ought to be open kind of late at least on the weekends a Thomas said. Kathy Neal a family Day care provider was mystified about the proposed change in hours. A i done to know Why they re doing it a she said. A i do Home Day care and 1 can to drag six kids to the commissary during the Day. They finally did something right and now they re Messing it  but it did no to Surprise air Force staff sgt. Michael Ekstrom who was picking up potato stick snacks to take to friends at work. A i had a feeling it was going to come sooner or later a Ekstrom said. A not everyone was going to use it like they should  store employees Are divided about the change. Cashier Brenda Pope likes her shift working late night to Early morning because she can spend evenings with her family and have the daytime to herself. A the stockers Are going to be Happy i can Tell you that a work Leader Roger Lee said. A a there a going to be More room to work in without the customers Here. A whether its open 24 hours or not we still have plenty of work to  and some customers expect service to improve when the stores business hours Are trimmed. A the meat selection Wasny to much when you came in Here at 1,�?� said spec. Wayne Titus of the 164th my co at Miessau. �?o1 think it la be a Little bit better  but even Titus is glad the store wont shut Down at the Early evening closing hour imposed at most commissaries. A a it a a 25-minute drive from Miessau a he said. A i would t be Able to get Here at All after