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Philadelphia-area stores with dedicated hours for seniors, pregnant women and the immunocompromised

Grocery stores, pharmacies to big-box stores and wholesale clubs are changing their hours to allow for a safer shopping experience for seniors, people with compromised immune systems, and similar groups. Here’s a round up of Philly-area shops doing this.

A woman who does not mind her photograph being published, but who prefers not to have her name in the paper, exits the Whole Foods Market on South Street in Philadelphia, March 18, 2020. Whole Foods Market has instituted Senior citizen only shopping from 7:30-8 a.m. each morning. The store hours are now: Senior citizen shopping 7:30-8 a.m. the store is open to the general public 8 a.m.-8 p.m, the early close is for cleaning and restocking.
A woman who does not mind her photograph being published, but who prefers not to have her name in the paper, exits the Whole Foods Market on South Street in Philadelphia, March 18, 2020. Whole Foods Market has instituted Senior citizen only shopping from 7:30-8 a.m. each morning. The store hours are now: Senior citizen shopping 7:30-8 a.m. the store is open to the general public 8 a.m.-8 p.m, the early close is for cleaning and restocking.Read moreJESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer

As the Philadelphia region continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, some retailers are changing how they do business to help protect customers who are particularly vulnerable.

Older people, individuals with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women are among the most at-risk for developing severe cases of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, they still need supplies like food and medicine.

So, retailers from grocery stores and pharmacies to big-box stores and wholesale clubs are setting aside hours specifically for seniors, people with compromised immune systems, and similar groups. Here’s a roundup of Philly-area shops doing this.

We will update this list as more stores announce exclusive hours. See one we are missing? Let us know.

Grocery stores

Acme: Acme is reserving 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. every weekday for people ages 60 and older, as well as customers with compromised immune systems. Find a local market at local.acmemarkets.com.

Aldi: Aldi announced on Facebook that its stores will be open to senior citizens, expectant mothers, and customers with health concerns from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A list of local stores is available at https://www.aldi.us/stores.

Fresh Market: The Fresh Market is open to seniors and “other individuals most at risk” from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays, the company said in a Facebook posting. Find a store near you at https://www.thefreshmarket.com/your-market/store-locator.

Giant: Giant Food Stores has designated 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. daily for customers 60 and older, as well as those who are immunocompromised. The company has since announced that in-store pharmacies will open at 6 a.m. for those customers. Find your local store at giantfood.com/store-locator.

Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s said in a statement that every day between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., its stores will maintain an “additional line outside the front door” for senior customers so that they can have “an expedited entrance” to shop. Find your local store at https://www.traderjoes.com/stores?q=.

Whole Foods: Customers 60 and older can shop at Whole Foods Markets one hour before regular operating hours. Find a local store at https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores.

Pharmacies

Walgreens: Customers ages 55 and older can shop at Walgreens locations from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. every Tuesday until further notice, the company indicates online. Additionally, Walgreens is offering free shipping for seniors, as well as expanded drive-through services. Find a location near you at https://www.walgreens.com/storelocator/find.jsp.

Big-box stores

Target: Every Wednesday, the first shopping hour of the day is reserved for “vulnerable guests,” including pregnant women, people who are 65 and older, and customers with health conditions. Find your local store at https://www.target.com/store-locator/find-stores.

Walmart: Customers 60 and older can shop an hour before regular hours every Tuesday. In a statement, the company said the specialized schedule will last through April 28, and includes pharmacy and Vision Center services. Local stores can be found at https://www.walmart.com/store/finder.

Wholesale clubs

BJ’s: A designated shopping hour from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily is available for members 60 and older, the company said on Facebook. Find a store near you at https://www.bjs.com/clubLocator.

Costco: Members 60 years and older can shop from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, though Business Centers are excluded. Pharmacy services will also be available, the company announced on Facebook. Find a store near you at https://www.costco.com/warehouse-locations.

Dollar stores

Dollar General: Senior shopping is the first hour that stores open daily, the company said in a statement. Find your local store at https://www.dollargeneral.com/store-locator.html.