As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in the Houston area, shoppers have been seeing empty shelves at local grocery stores including H-E-B and Walmart.
Saturday, Walmart and Randall’s decided to limit its hours so store shelves can be replenished.
Twenty-four hour Walmart locations will begin opening at 6:00 a.m. and remain open until 11:00 p.m.
Starting March 15, Walmart stores and Neighborhood Markets will be open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. until further notice. This will help ensure associates can clean and stock products. Stores operating under more reduced hours will keep current hours of operation. https://t.co/xw5GuNFQ0F
— Walmart (@Walmart) March 15, 2020
Randalls will shift its hours from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. until further notice.
Friday, H-E-B released a statement informing customers that it will begin limiting store hours in efforts to allow staff a chance to restock shelves.
Starting immediately all H-E-B, Joe V’s Smart Shop, Mi Tienda and Central Market stores will begin closing at 8 p.m. and reopening at 8 a.m. until further notice.
The statement read: These temporary changes, along with some adjustment to our services, will help us keep our shelves stocked and help ensure our customers can secure the products they need as quickly as possible. Please remember that while preparation is important, panic is not necessary. We will return to our regular hours and full services as quickly as possible.
H-E-B released a statement ensuring customers they don’t need to panic about empty shelves.
“At H-E-B, our top priority is taking care of Texas. While the emergence of the coronavirus (COVID-19) is an evolving situation with many unknowns, we are sure of one thing: We will do our part to help our fellow Texans prepare. As a state, we can help slow the spread of the virus by working together. H-E-B is prepared to help our fellow Texans in any situation our company and communities might face.”
The grocer went on to explain that they have been preparing for months and have the ability to restock shelves.
“H-E-B has been preparing for coronavirus for several months and we are in a strong position to keep replenishing our shelves. Customers should not panic, we have the ability to restock shelves and encourage our customers to remain calm. H-E-B Partners are ready to help Texas slow the spread.”
The company has also implemented purchasing limits for customers on certain items such as disinfecting and antibacterial sprays/wipes, toilet paper, water and more.
H-E-B in Richmond on Circle Oak Parkway
Trader Joe’s on Shepherd Drive
Staff said they were busy on Thursday and reported seeing the line to pay was out the door at one point.
H-E-B in Pearland
H-E-B in Bellaire
Kroger Store Hours
Starting Saturday, March 14, all Kroger stores in the Houston-area will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Staff at the Kroger Marketplace in Rosenberg said they’d been working since 10 p.m. Thursday and restocked shelves through the night. As soon as they put products out, the items were immediately snatched up.
Chinatown Stores
Many stores in Chinatown are fully stocked with toilet paper, meats, and shelf products like large bags of rice, according to Miya Shay.
