Coronavirus senior shopping: Stores introduce ‘senior-only’ time

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Some retailers are setting aside time for their most vulnerable customers to shop.

Acknowledging that older adults and persons with underlying health conditions are more susceptible to COVID-19, a growing number of stores are dedicating time or opening earlier for senior shoppers and other at-risk groups.

Because of panic shopping, which has left store shelves empty, at-risk groups including seniors have had difficulty getting supplies.

Walmart announced it is introducing an hour-long senior shopping event March 24 that will be held every Tuesday through April 28 for customers 60 and older. The designated hour will start one hour before the retailer’s 5,000-plus U.S. stores open.

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.”

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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. The company, which is owned by Amazon, has approximately 500 stores throughout the U.K., Canada and in 42 U.S. states.

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“We are setting aside this time to help these customers, who national health authorities have identified as among the most vulnerable to COVID-19, feel more comfortable shopping our stores and helping to ensure they are able to get the items they need in a less-crowded environment,” Whole Foods Market said in a statement.

Target is introducing a weekly hour for elderly and vulnerable shoppers to shop starting Wednesday, the same day it will cut hours at its more than 1,800 stores nationwide.

Dollar General designated the first hour at its more than 16,000 stores in 44 states as open daily to senior shoppers.

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.

Some experts say they are concerned about having a large number of seniors congregate together. Alysa Krain, an infectious disease doctor who specializes in geriatric medicine at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, told the Washington Post that the special hours make her nervous.

“It was a good idea in general, but it’s a little bit dangerous if it’s not controlled,” Krain told the Post.

Stores helping elderly, vulnerable

Albertsons: From 7 to 9 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, the company is reserving time for “those vulnerable shoppers who must leave home to obtain their groceries, unless otherwise locally mandated.” Find the full list of Albertsons companies stores here.

Balducci’s: With locations in Virginia, Maryland, New York and Connecticut, the grocer is reserving the first hour of shopping for the elderly and high-risk guests.

Bashas’ Supermarkets: The company’s stores including Bashas’, Food City and AJ’s grocery stores will open from 5 to 6 a.m. Wednesdays for anyone 65 and older, reported the Arizona Republic, which is part of the USA TODAY Network. The hour for Bashas’ reservation stores is from 6 to 7 a.m. Shoppers will be required to show valid identification at the store. If a caretaker is needed, one can shop with the senior but cannot shop for themselves.

Big Lots: Stores are reserving first hour of each day for senior citizens and “those most vulnerable to this virus,” CEO Bruce Thorn said in an email to shoppers.

Dollar General: The Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based discount chain announced it is dedicating the first hour in its more than 16,000 stores in 44 states to help senior shoppers “avoid busier and more crowded shopping periods.” The retailer said in a tweet that it wasn’t “qualifying a specific age” for the set-aside time.

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.

Jersey City: 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.

Kings Food Markets: With locations in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, the grocer is reserving the first hour of shopping for the elderly and high-risk guests.

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, part of the USA TODAY Network. 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 50 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.

Walmart: From March 24 through April 28, Walmart stores will host an hour-long senior shopping event every Tuesday for customers 60 and older, which will start one hour before stores open. Checking IDs is at the store’s discretion, Walmart told USA TODAY.

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.

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By Javier Manning