The time between holidays often leaves consumers wondering how businesses decide when to decorate.

While places such as Crabtree Valley Mall have had their decorations up since before Halloween, businesses like Sammy’s Tap and Grill on Avent Ferry held out a little bit longer.  

At first glance Sammy’s looks a bit like Santa’s workshop. Holiday lights and signs stretch from one end of the building to another bearing phrases such as “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.”

According to manager Thomas Ross, the decorations have been up since the week before Thanksgiving and the restaurant plans to keep them up until a few days after New Year’s.

Ross said having the lights up before Thanksgiving helped customers know they were open on Thanksgiving day. Sammy’s will be open Christmas day as well.

According to Ross, the decorations at Sammy’s are not yet complete.  

“It makes the atmosphere a little more cheery and jolly,” Ross said. “I don’t think we are done decorating yet.”

Dewey’s Bakery in Cameron Village is a seasonal store that sells Moravian sugar cookies and cakes. The company is based out of Winston-Salem where there is a year-round store. The holiday decorations have been up since it’s opening in October because the store caters to holiday shoppers.

“There are a lot of people that have moved to Raleigh from Winston that stop by for the memories,” Jade Hall, an employee of Dewey’s, said. “People come mostly for holiday shopping.”

Although some businesses were quick to jump on the holiday decorations, other businesses, like 42nd Street Oyster Bar in downtown Raleigh, held out until after Thanksgiving.  

The seafood restaurant located off of Glenwood Avenue,put up decorations such as wreaths and Christmas lights the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  

According to manager Stephen Koster, the restaurant traditionally waits until the Sunday or Monday after Thanksgiving.

“We never do it before Thanksgiving because one holiday needs to be finished before we start another,” Koster said. “We try to keep it conservative. We don’t want to take away from people’s dining experience.”

Holiday lights and Christmas tree ornaments adorn the streets of Cameron Village while wreaths and garland make up the decorations at Crabtree Valley and colorful signs and lighted Christmas trees hang on the building of Sammy’s.

Ross joked that the restaurant was similar to the infamous Griswold house from the National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation movie — overall, it’s a personal choice based on the owners’ preferences.

“Sammy loves lights and he likes to put them up early,” Ross said.