Special Shopping Hours for Seniors, Vulnerable Shoppers, Healthcare Workers & 1st Responders Due to Coronavirus
These retailers are taking steps to protect vulnerable shoppers from the Coronavirus.
In an effort to make shopping a little safer and less overwhelming for our most vulnerable populations, many stores are now offering special shopping hours for senior citizens. In some cases, other shoppers who are particularly susceptible to medical onlineplications from Coronavirus are also included.
Most of the restricted shopping times occur right at the beginning of the day, during the first hour of business. Since many stores are now closing down overnight for restocking and enhanced cleaning procedures, these restricted hours will give our most vulnerable friends and family members a chance to get what they need in the safest environment possible while avoiding the worst of the crowds.
Requirements to shop during these hours vary by store, so if you have any questions please contact your local retailer before heading out. Most stores aren’t requiring ID, but you may want to bring a valid form of identification just in case.
These are the stores that are currently offering specific hours for vulnerable shoppers:
Albertsons & Affiliates
Albertsons and other onlinepany-owned stores will be reserving every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM for its most “vulnerable shoppers.” This includes senior citizens and other at-risk populations such as pregnant women or those with onlinepromised immune systems.
The Albertsons onlinepany includes other stores such as Acme, Jewel-Osco, Randall’s, Safeway, Shaw’s, and Star Market. A onlineplete list of participating stores can be seen here.
ALDI
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, ALDI stores will open at 8:30AM and reserve the first hour of business for vulnerable shoppers. This includes senior citizens, expectant mothers and those with underlying health concerns. Go here for more information.
Big Lots
All Big Lots stores are reserving the first hour of every day for senior citizens and those most vulnerable to the virus. Head on over here to check the hours of a Big Lots near you.
Costco
Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8 AM to 9 AM, Costco will open to members who are 60 and older. Costco is also allowing healthcare workers and first responders who show a Costco membership card and official ID to move to the front of the line to enter the warehouse every day of the week.
Effective May 4, all members, guests, and employees will be required to wear face masks while shopping inside the warehouse.
Dollar General
Dollar General is dedicating the first hour of operations each day to serving the needs of senior citizens. In most cases, this will be from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Use Dollar General’s store locator to check the hours at your local store.
Dollar Tree is dedicating the stores’ first operational hours each day to at-risk customers, including senior citizens, individuals with pre-existing health conditions, and pregnant women.
Fareway
All Fareway Meat & Grocery locations will be open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM daily to serve shoppers ages 65 and older, those with increased susceptibility to serious illness, and expectant mothers.
The Fresh Market
The Fresh Market is designating special shopping hours for seniors and other individuals most at risk. These hours are between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM, Monday through Friday. All store employees and customers are now required to wear masks or other face coverings.
Giant Food Stores
Beginning Thursday, March 19, all GIANT, MARTIN’S and GIANT Heirloom Market stores will open from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM daily in order to serve only those customers who are age 60 and older.
Kroger & Affiliates
Some Kroger locations and other onlinepany-owned stores have started to offer exclusive shopping hours for seniors 60 and older. Hours vary by location, so please see the onlineplete list or contact your local store directly to see if it’s participating.
Marshalls and T. J. Maxx
As Marshalls and T.J. Maxx stores reopen, they will hold dedicated shopping hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 AM to 10 AM for seniors (60+) and those who are at greater medical risk.
Meijer
Meijer stores and pharmacies will provide dedicated shopping times for senior citizens and customers with chronic health conditions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 AM to 8 AM local time.
Meijer will also provide dedicated shopping times and pharmacy hours for essential service workers and Meijer team members on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7 AM to 8 AM local time.
Price Chopper
All Price Chopper, Market 32, and Market Bistro locations will pre-open exclusively to seniors from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM every day. These hours will begin on Thursday, March 19.
Publix
Beginning on March 24, Publix will offer senior shopping hours for customers ages 65 and over on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Publix Pharmacy will also open at 7 AM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for senior shoppers.
Publix has also designated special shopping hours for first responders and healthcare workers. Thursday from 8 PM to 9 PM and Friday from 7 AM to 8 AM will be reserved exclusively for these groups. The pharmacy will also be open for them during these hours.
Rite Aid
The first hour of every weekday (from 9 AM to 10 AM local time) at Rite Aide has been reserved for seniors over age 65 and those with weakened immune systems.
Ross
As Ross stores reopen, they will have dedicated shopping hours every Tuesday from 9 AM to 10 AM for seniors and those with higher medical risks.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club is offering early shopping hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 AM to 9 AM for seniors and those with disabilities or onlinepromised immune systems. The pharmacy and optical center will also be open during this time.
Sam’s Club also introduced a new concierge service where vulnerable members can choose to shop from their car during these hours. Members in need can place their orders from a dedicated parking location, and a Sam’s Club associate will bring their items out to them.
On Sundays from 8 AM to 10 AM, Sam’s Club is now open for Hero Hours, when healthcare workers and first responders can shop without a membership. For more information on Sam’s Hero Hours, head on over here!
Smith’s Food and Drug
Smith’s is offering exclusive shopping hours for seniors 60 and older on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.
Stop & Shop
Beginning Thursday, March 19th, all Stop & Shop stores will open earlier in order to serve only customers who are ages 60 and older. Shoppers in this age group can use a designated entrance and shop between the hours of 6:00 AM and 7:30 AM daily.
Southeastern Grocers
Winn-Dixie, BI-LO, Harveys Supermarket, and Fresco y Más stores are dedicating the first hour of every Monday through Friday to seniors and high-risk customers.
Healthcare personnel and other first responders can also visit these stores from 8-9 PM on Monday and Tuesday evenings to participate in shopping hours reserved especially for these frontline warriors.
Target
Target is reserving the first hour of shopping each Tuesday and Wednesday for “vulnerable guests,” which includes the elderly and those with underlying health concerns. In-store CVS pharmacies will be open during these times too. Use Target’s store locator to check the hours at a store near you.
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s is now starting every day with a senior shopping hour from 9 AM to 10 AM. When lines form outside the store, a separate line will be maintained during this time for senior customers.
Walgreens
Now, every Tuesday is Seniors Day at Walgreens. This means that every Tuesday will begin with a senior shopping hour from 8 AM to 9 AM for shoppers ages 55 and up.
Seniors can also enjoy special discounts every Tuesday, including 30% off eligible regular-price store-brand products (in-store or online with the code SENIOR30) and 20% off all other eligible regular-price items (in-store or online with the code SENIOR20).
Walmart
From March 24 through April 28, shoppers 60 and older will be able to enter the store one hour before it opens every Tuesday. Since Walmart has adjusted its opening time to 7:00, the senior shopping window will be from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM. Walmart’s pharmacies and vision centers will also be open to older customers during this time.
Winn Dixie
Southeastern Grocers, which owns Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Max, Harvey Supermarket and BI-LO, says it will extend shopping hours on Monday and Tuesday from 8 PM – 9 PM, dedicated solely to healthcare providers and first responders.
They have also designated a special shopping hour dedicated to seniors and high-risk customers from 8 – 9 a.m., Monday through Friday, in all stores.
(Thanks, Renee!)
Whole Foods
All Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. and Canada are now servicing customers who are 60 and older one hour before opening to the general public. For example, in stores where the hours of operation are 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, customers who are 60 and older can shop beginning at 8:00 AM.
Whole Foods Market stores have adjusted their store hours in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Use the store locator to check the updated hours of your local Market.
We’ll keep updating this list as more information beonlinees available. In the meantime, stay safe, be well, and look out for one another. ♥
Check out this huge list of educational websites that your child can use for free!