It’s not news that Christmas starts earlier each season (especially when the economy is rough and retailers try to get a jump start on the holiday).

It is news when Shakespeare’s, Columbia’s favorite pizza joint, starts selling its Christmas goods a couple of days after Halloween.  By last weekend, the restaurant had their prepackaged holiday mugs on display. 

The stocking stuffers are fun – they come with a gift certificate for the restaurant – but why is this necessary?  Aren’t local restaurants supposed to be the anti-corporate?  Let Starbuck’s use their red cups – you should be better than this, Shakespeare’s.