Working the night shift at a convenience store often leads to interesting stories, but nothing could have prepared cashier Christopher Kinson for the ultimate Midnight Bear Customer. It was a quiet night, around 1:30 AM, at a 7-Eleven in Olympic Valley, California. The automatic doors slid open, but no person walked in. Christopher looked down and froze. A massive brown bear was casually sauntering into the store like it owned the place. This unexpected visitor turned a normal shift into an unforgettable encounter with wild life.
Just Here for the Snacks
Christopher, 54, was initially startled, then scared. “Seeing the door open without anyone walking in was startling,” he recalled. “But realizing it was a bear… it was unbelievable.” The huge animal didn’t seem interested in the cashier, however. It had one destination in mind: the candy aisle.
What happened next was bizarrely comical. The bear didn’t tear the place apart. Instead, it carefully pawed through the candy bars, selecting treats one by one, almost politely. From a safe distance, Christopher grabbed his phone and started recording, his fear slowly turning into amazed amusement. “Its ‘politeness’ in taking one candy bar at a time was almost hilarious,” he said. The bear calmly munched on its chosen snacks right there in the aisle.
A Determined Sweet Tooth
After its first course, the bear strolled back out into the night. But the Midnight Bear Customer wasn’t finished. Minutes later, the door slid open again, and the bear returned for seconds. And then, thirds. Each time, it repeated the routine: wander in, grab a candy bar, and wander out.
Christopher tried to secure the store. He wedged the door shut with a broom handle and even tied it closed with a garbage bag. But the determined bear easily bypassed his efforts, seemingly convinced the 7-Eleven was its personal, all-you-can-eat candy buffet.
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For over half an hour, this strange dance continued. Christopher stayed calm, always keeping an eye on his escape route to the back room. “Initially, it was scary,” he admitted. “But after a while, I knew it was just looking for food. Still, we should always be cautious—you can’t predict a wild animal.” Respect for these powerful animals is crucial, even when they act like oversized toddlers in a candy store.
A Story for the Ages
Eventually, the bear seemed satisfied. It took one last look around the candy aisle, then shuffled out the door for the final time, disappearing back into the forest as quietly as it had arrived.
The aftermath left Christopher shaken but laughing. The candy shelves were noticeably emptier, but the experience? Priceless. “It was like watching a giant child let loose in a candy shop,” he joked. “Except this child could crush the counter with one paw.”
This incredible encounter quickly became one of the town’s favorite stories, a hilarious reminder of the wild life just beyond their doorsteps. For Christopher Kinson, it was the night shift he’ll never forget – the night a very polite, very persistent Midnight Bear Customer decided the best snacks were at the 7-Eleven.
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