Stop & Shop opens doors early to most vulnerable shoppers
Waterford — Stop & Shop stores held their first session of isolated shopping early Thursday morning for those considered most vulnerable to the COVID-19 coronavirus, drawing hundreds of shoppers.
In Waterford, a produce manager said at least 80 people were standing outside the store prior to the opening, waiting to get in. In Norwich, some shoppers were lined up while more waited in their cars for doors to open.
The stores each opened one entrance at 6 a.m., giving those over the age of 60 or who have compromised immune systems a chance to stock up before aisles were overcrowded with other shoppers. IDs were not being checked to verify ages, but stores had security guards or police at the doors to monitor who was entering.
The grocery chain announced earlier this week that its stores would be open 6 to 7:30 a.m. every day exclusively for vulnerable shoppers in an attempt to limit exposure to potential carriers of the coronavirus.
“These special hours will allow for a less crowded environment, which better enables social distancing,” said Maura O'Brien, a spokesperson for Stop & Shop. “They'll be able to feel safe and shop with confidence knowing they'll be in-store prior to any other customers entering.”
New London resident Barbara Place, 82, said she came to the Waterford store about 6:30 a.m. to shop to lower her chances of encountering someone infected with coronavirus, but wasn't able to get the groceries she needed.
“I think this is good because I think there are people who could be sick who could be shopping,” Place said. “But they didn't have too much anyway, that surprised me, everything was gone.”
Place, diligently sanitizing her shopping cart and hands as she exited the store, said that she wasn't able to buy any meat or frozen food — those shelves were empty. She did stock up on vegetables, mostly potatoes, and three rolls of toilet paper.
Nearly every shopper who exited the stores in Norwich and Waterford seemed to have toilet paper in their
“I think this is good because I think there are people who could be sick who could be shopping. But they didn’t have too much anyway, that surprised me, everything was gone.”
BARBARA PLACE OF NEW LONDON
cart. Many household products have been in short supply, as many shoppers nationwide have been hoarding toilet paper, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes.
Gloria Gathers of New London said she came to Stop & Shop to find toilet paper and get the ingredients she needed to make soup.
“There aren’t many can goods left,” Gathers said, “and I needed some paper products like toilet paper. I was one of the few people who didn’t go out and hoard those things.” She was able to find what she needed Thursday morning.
John W. Jeffors, 80, of Waterford stocked up on potatoes, ginger ale and Kit Kat bars early Thursday. He said he chose to shop during the special hours to protect himself and his wife, who is 94.
“I was surprised how many people there were but it was smooth, they’re doing a great job,” he said. “There were only a few things I couldn’t get, nothing notable.”
Ann Axtell, 67, said she and her husband, Warren, 69, came to the store about 6:30 a.m. to beat the crowds. “Because of our age,” she said, “it’s better when it’s not as crowded.”
Axtell said she was looking forward to getting their shopping done without being around too many people. “I was here last week when the place was full, and it was so crowded, we were all bumping into each other,” she said.
Health officials advise people to practice social distancing, or physically keep several feet from one another, to lower chances of virus transmission. O’Brien said stores would only be operating every other checkout lane to increase the distance between shoppers.
Gathers, from New London, said that she still felt like people were much too close together during the special shopping hours and weren’t able to practice the 6-foot distance recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “It was fine up until I got to the front. The idea is supposed to be distancing ourselves and it was like a bottleneck in there,” she said. “The so-called social distancing isn’t working.”
For shoppers who would like to avoid the store altogether, Stop & Shop also is offering contact-free deliveries.
The option is a new service meant “to ensure optimal social distancing,” O’Brien said. Delivery drivers will send customers a text or email upon arrival and then leave the bags by the customers’ door or entryway.
Despite some empty shelves, O’Brien said that Stop & Stop stores in Connecticut, and throughout the region, are being restocked regularly.
“Our teams are working diligently with suppliers to ensure that all stores receive product that is in high demand, including toilet paper and other paper products,” she said. “At store level our teams are working around the clock to ensure all product is available for customers upon delivery to our stores.”
O’Brien said some delivery schedules may have shifted due to high demand, but all stores will be receiving regular deliveries, and no distribution centers are expected to close.