All Whole Foods stores opening early for seniors during coronavirus outbreak
The idea came to Willowbrook Mayor Frank Trilla when he heard news on the radio about Australian grocery stores offering designated shopping hours just for seniors.
It was only two days after public health officials announced the first confirmed case of coronavirus in DuPage County: a woman in her 60s who lives in a nursing home in Willowbrook. There have since been an additional 22 confirmed cases at the facility - 18 residents and four employees.
Trilla knew the idea of "elderly hours" in stores would take hold in a town where 24% of the population is 65 and older.
So the mayor approached Mike Kowalski, the manager of the Willowbrook Whole Foods, and he agreed to open the store early for elderly people at higher risk of falling seriously ill with COVID-19.
By Tuesday night, the idea expanded nationwide with the Amazon-owned grocer announcing all Whole Foods Market stores in the U.S. and Canada will adopt the accommodations.
Starting Wednesday, Whole Foods customers who are 60 and older will be able to get their grocery shopping done one hour before stores open to the general public.
"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," the company said in a statement.
The adjusted hours also will allow seniors to shop when shelves are fully stocked and not emptied by panic buying.
"It's a pilot program right now, and then because everything is such a fluid situation, we will evaluate and move forward," Kowalski said.
Dollar General also has embraced the concept. The discount-store chain on Tuesday began dedicating the first hour of store operations exclusively to seniors.
"We appreciate our customers' understanding of our decision and request they visit our stores later in the morning to allow at-risk populations the ability to purchase the items they need at affordable prices," CEO Todd Vasos.
In Lake County, Sunset Foods is requesting that customers avoid the opening shopping hour from 7 to 8 a.m. so seniors and people with compromised immune systems can get their groceries in a less-crowded environment. Sunset foods will not be regulating that in any way, but it's encouraging customers to help its five stores in Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Long Grove and Northbrook reserve the hour, Sarah Hanlon said.
"We are really just kind of asking the community to help us in keeping that time available for them," Hanlon said.
Trilla now hopes other chains come on board.
"We've put some feelers out, trying to get our stores to come along with the idea," he said.