MARCH 15, 2020
James Gregg, Austin American-Statesman Customers at grocery chain HEB in Austin look for products among increasingly empty shelves as the city responds to concerns of the spread of the new coronavirus and COVID-19 on March 13, 2020.
Retailers across the nation are trimming store hours to focus on deep cleanings and to restock store shelves. Some are closing stores, too.
Apple announced it will close all its retail stores outside Greater China until March 27 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Urban Outfitters also announced all of its stores worldwide would be closed at least until March 28. Nike is making a similar move, temporarily closing all of its stores in the U.S. for 12 days, the company told CNBC on Sunday.
Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, announced late Saturday that starting Sunday it was trimming hours at 24-hour stores and other locations. The temporary hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Other Walmart stores also will have reduced hours.
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Grocery store chains including Florida-based Publix, New York-based Wegmans and H-E-B are among retailers closing earlier. Changes at more regional and national retailers are expected in the coming days.
It also will get harder to find liquor in four Pennsylvania counties starting Monday, according to the Bucks County Courier Times, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Saturday announced a phased closure of state-owned Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties. On Tuesday, stores in these counties will be closed. The state will keep its online store up and running, making deliveries.
Temporary grocery store changes
Harris Teeter: Starting Sunday, Harris Teeter will close stores at 9 p.m. each night until further notice, the grocery chain posted on its website. Stores will open at their regular time.
H-E-B: On Saturday, stores will close at 8 p.m. Then starting Sunday, all stores will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. until further notice.
Fred Meyer: Stores will not be open overnight. Updates will be posted at www.fredmeyer.com/i/coronavirus-update
Giant Eagle: The grocer said in a news release that starting Sunday its flagship and Market District supermarkets will be open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. All GetGo stores located adjacent to supermarkets will mirror the supermarket hours.
Kroger: Starting Monday, store hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. until further notice, according to The Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network. Kroger’s namesake stores in Houston will also curtail 24-hour service, according to local TV reports by KHOU. Several of the company’s subsidiaries are also making changes.
King Soopers: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. starting Sunday, according to a news release.
Publix: All stores will close at 8 p.m. until further notice, according to the grocery store chain.
QFC: Stores will not be open overnight. Updates will be posted at www.qfc.com/i/coronavirus-update.
Ralphs: Modified hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Smith’s Food & Drug: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to the retailer’s website.
Walmart: Starting Sunday, 24-hour stores will be open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. “until further notice.” Other locations will also have reduced hours.
Wegmans: Stores closing overnight for cleaning. Hours vary and are posted here.
Other store changes
Abercrombie & Fitch: The company announced Sunday it is closing all stores in North America for two weeks until March 28. The online store will remain open.
Apple: The retailer announced it will close all its retail stores outside Greater China until March 27 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
lululemon: Starting Monday, stores will be open noon to 6 p.m. local time.
Nike: The athletic apparel company announced U.S. store closures from Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27. Customers can continue to shop on Nike.com and on Nike apps.
Urban Outfitters: The company’s stores – including Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain, and Urban Outfitters namesake stores – are closed until at least March 28 because of the coronavirus, the company announced.
Courtesy/Source: USA Today
