Coronavirus senior shopping: Stores introduce 'senior-only' time
Albertsons, which has 2,200-plus stores under banners including
Safeway, Acme and Vons, says it is reserving two hours every Tuesday and Thursday morning for vulnerable shoppers, including senior citizens, pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems "who have been advised to avoid leaving home as much as possible."
Dollar General designated the first hour at its more than 16,000 stores in 44 states as open daily to senior shoppers.
Fareway Meat & Grocery: Starting Wednesday and until further notice, stores will open to shoppers 65 and older, expecting mothers and those with "increased susceptibility to serious illness" from 8 to 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the public.
Fresh Market: The grocer, which has 159 stores in 22 states, is reserving the first hour stores open, from 8 to 9 a.m., for "seniors and those most at risk" Monday through Friday.
Food Town: The Texas-based retailer says to "help support the shopping needs of the elderly in our community," stores will open from 7 to 8 a.m. to allow those 65 and older to shop in a less-crowded environment. Access to the store during the hour will require a government-issued state ID or Texas driver's license.
Gelson's: Starting Wednesdays, seniors 65 and older can shop from 7 to 8 a.m. "You may be asked for ID," the California grocer said on
its website.
In Jersey City, New Jersey, grocery stores will allocate two hours every morning, from 9 to 11, specifically for elderly, disabled and pregnant shoppers, Mayor Steven Fulop said. The rule started Tuesday and applies to grocery stores that have three or more cash registers.
Mother’s Markets: The California-based company is starting "Safe Shop Wednesdays” and is opening from 6 to 7 a.m. every Wednesday for “elderly, disabled, those with compromised immune systems, chemo patients, etc.”
It's also offering free home delivery for the high-risk groups with promo code FREE4SENIORS
Northgate González Market: The Southern California Latino market has started a special hour of shopping for the disabled and seniors 65 and older from 7 to 8 a.m. at its 41 locations.
Safeway: From 7 to 9 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday, the company is reserving time for "those vulnerable shoppers who must leave home to obtain their groceries, unless otherwise locally mandated."
Schnucks: Starting Wednesday and continuing indefinitely, Schnucks is reserving the first hour of each day – from 6 to 7 a.m. – for shopping by seniors aged 60 and above, and for those who are most at risk of COVID-19,
the grocer announced.
Sedano's Supermarkets: Starting Thursday, the Florida-based chain's 35 locations will open from 7 to 8 a.m. for seniors 65 and older and "the immunocompromised members of our communities," the company said.
Smith's Food & Drug Stores: Starting Wednesday, Smith’s will dedicate the first hour on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 to 8 a.m. "solely to the shopping needs of senior citizens until further notice," the company wrote in a
Facebook post.
Stop & Shop: Starting Thursday, the retailer, which has more than 400 stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey, will give shoppers 60 and older 90 minutes to shop each morning from 6 to 7:30 a.m., according to the
Asbury Park Press. Stop & Shop said the dedicated time better enables social distancing and there would be a designated entrance for seniors.
Target: Starting Wednesday, the retailer will "reserve the first hour of shopping each Wednesday at stores nationwide for vulnerable guests," Target said, adding it is "encouraging other guests to plan their shopping trips around this time frame."
Vallarta Supermarkets: Starting Wednesday, all locations will be open from 7 to 8 a.m. for shoppers 65-plus, pregnant women and those with disabilities, the grocer said in a
Facebook post.
Whole Foods Market: Starting Wednesday, all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. and Canada will let customers who are 60 and older shop one hour before opening to the public.
Several small and regional grocery store chains also are looking to help, though most retailers are not requiring identification or proof of age and are only "encouraging" other shoppers to plan around these windows.