Publix extends hours, but other stores stay the same as cities reopen from shutdown
As South Florida maps out plans for a phased reopening after coronavirus closures, Publix has announced it will extend its hours and eliminate reserved shopping time for seniors and first responders.
Whole Foods Market and The Fresh Market, however, say they’ll keep the same hours.
The new hours at Publix will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, beginning Saturday. That’s an hour earlier and an hour later than the current hours. The pharmacy will return to regular operating hours. The new store closing time is still earlier than the regular hours before the pandemic.
“Thank you for your patience over the past several weeks while we’ve operated under reduced hours,” the Lakeland-based chain said in a statement.
In March, the company slashed hours to allow more time for cleaning and restocking shelves. It also reserved several hours a week for senior shoppers and those more susceptible to COVID-19. The company also added reserved hours for first responders.
The company said customers who “prefer to shop when the stores are less crowded” should “shop during the first hour of the day, when we can better accommodate that need.”
Whole Foods Market, on the other hand, said the hour before each store’s general opening will still be reserved for shoppers over 60 years old, people with disabilities and people the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as high risk. Store hours vary, so shoppers should check the website to find the hours of their Whole Foods of preference.
The Fresh Market standardized all of its store hours in March at 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and said it would remain that way for now.
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 12:33 PM.
