Coronavirus shopping: Special hours for seniors; limits on high-demand items
With grocery shelves bare in many stores of key items including toilet paper, many stores have shifted their hours during the coronavirus pandemic.
Many also are creating special hours just for seniors, a population most at-risk of serious complications and death from the respiratory virus.
▪ Walmart announced on Wednesday that stores will now be open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in most places, with special hour-long senior shopping events on Tuesdays one hour before the store opens, March 24 through April 28. Pharmacies and Vision Centers also will be open early for seniors. The new hours will “help associates restock the shelves for customers while continuing to clean and sanitize the store.” Stores also are limiting the number of certain items, including paper products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.
▪ The Fresh Market will have shopping from 8 to 9 a.m. weekdays for seniors and at-risk individuals.
▪ Kroger is now open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Limits have been placed on many high-demand items including cold, flu and sanitary products. Other items have been limited by store. Across Lexington, shoppers have been lining up in the morning hours to get in as soon as the doors open.
▪ Good Foods Co-op announced a special senior shopping hour for those 60 and older from 8 to 9 a.m. daily. The store also will be closing at 8 p.m. The store also is closing from 2 to 3 p.m. for cleaning. Good Foods also is limiting purchases to four items in key categories including frozen fruit, canned beans, pasta and canned tuna.
▪ Whole Foods will open stores an hour early for senior shoppers; Lexington’s store is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to its web site.
▪ Target said it will have a reserve the first hour on Wednesday for older customers; stores will close at 9 p.m. for cleaning.
▪ Costco Lexington will open early for seniors Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
▪ Trader Joe’s in some locations also are designating special morning hours for seniors.
▪ Fayette Mall hours remain unchanged, however some retailers have closed or modified hours. Macy’s, JCPenney and Dick’s Sporting Goods are temporarily closed, but Dillard’s is still open with modified hours. Several small, local businesses are still open and operating on modified hours, and some even provide curbside pick-up service (e.g. AllSports). The food court dining area is closed, but many food vendors are still open for pickup/curbside service or delivery, with modified hours. Restaurants on property are also providing carry-out, curb-side and delivery options. “We will continue to monitor this rapidly evolving situation and adjust as necessary or as mandated by governmental officials,” the mall said in a statement.
▪ Dollar General stores also are dedicating the first hour of each day to senior customers; check local stores for opening times. The stores will close an hour earlier for cleaning and restocking.
▪ Joseph-Beth Booksellers is offering curbside book pickup as well as home delivery. Joseph-Beth is open Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
▪ Bed, Bath & Beyond announced Friday that it is closing about 800 stores, including the one at Hamburg shopping center, that do not carry lots of cleaning supplies. Others that do, including the one on Nicholasville Road, will be open for reduced hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Return policy also has been extended by 60 days. Associates will receive pay and benefits during the shutdown, according to the company.
This story was originally published March 19, 2020 at 6:16 PM.
