Grocery stores will continue to remain open during the stay-at-home order. In order to protect seniors and people with underlying medical conditions, many stores in Columbus have created designated senior shopping hours to minimize the health risk.
Senior shopping hours in Columbus stores give at-risk groups a chance to shop for groceries and other supplies in less crowded stores. In addition, senior shopping hours are usually the first open hours of the day, so the stores have had time to clean and disinfect without customers. With better stocked shelves, shoppers may be able to go longer between their shopping trips as well. These hours are also open to customers who are immune-compromised.
While we highly recommend grocery pickup and delivery options for seniors and people at risk, we understand that not everyone is comfortable with the technology. If you’d prefer pickup or delivery, see our list of grocery store pickup and delivery in Columbus.
Retailers have been changing store hours to allow for full restock, additional cleaning, and to give employees enough time off. Check store hours before you head out. Many retailers have purchase limits on high demand products to prevent overbuying of items that others need. Stop hoarding! Buy what you truly need, and leave the rest for others.
Finally, help each other out. If you know of someone who needs to avoid the stores due to medical conditions, age, or children at home, offer to pick up essentials for them while you’re out. You can leave the items on their porch, and they can pay via Paypal, FB pay – or even write you a check or leave cash in an envelope. Both parties should sanitize or wash before and after handling cash or a check, of course.
Senior Shopping Hours
ALDI Senior Shopping Hours
When: 8:30am – 9:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with the first hour reserved for the most vulnerable shoppers, including senior citizens, expectant mothers, and those with underlying health conditions.
Who: Senior citizens, pregnant women, customers with compromised immune systems
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): ALDI stores across the country will be open for regular hours from 9:00am to 7:00pm daily.
Delivery and pickup: May be available via InstaCart. New Instacart users get free delivery for the first 3 orders of $35+ with code SHOPALDI21 at checkout. See pickup and delivery options here.
Currently hiring? Aldi is hiring
Kroger senior shopping hours
When: 7am-8am Monday through Thursday.
Who: Ages 60+
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): Columbus stores are open from 7 am – 9 pm
Delivery and pickup: Both are available. Currently offering free pickup, no minimum order, delivery is $9.95. See pickup and delivery options here.
Currently hiring? Kroger is hiring for all positions.
Meijer senior shopping hours
When:
7am-8am Tuesdays & Thursdays: This time is reserved for senior citizens and customers with chronic health conditions.
7am-8am, Mondays & Wednesdays: This time is reserved for essential service workers and Meijer Team Members.
Who: Seniors, first responders and those with compromised immune systems.
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): 8am-10pm, all week: All customers welcome.
Delivery and pickup: Both are available. See pickup and delivery options here.
Currently hiring? Meijer is hiring for seasonal and regular part-time positions. See positions here.
Giant Eagle senior shopping hours
When: 6 a.m. – 7 a.m., Monday – Wednesday. Supermarkets will open one hour early for those who are age 60 and older, differently-abled or immune-compromised. Beginning Monday, March 23, we will open our doors at 6 a.m., Monday through Wednesday, to provide a comfortable shopping opportunity for these vulnerable guests.
Who: age 60 and older, differently-abled or immune-compromised
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): Supermarkets will be open for all guests between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m
Grocery limits: 2 items per guest for Milk Products and Bread Products. 1 item per guest for Paper Towels, Antibacterial Wipes, Toilet Paper, and Hand Sanitizer
Delivery and pickup: Both are available. See pickup and delivery options here.
Currently hiring? Giant Eagle is hiring for seasonal and regular part-time positions. See positions here.
Fresh Thyme senior shopping hours
When:
6 a.m. – 8 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for seniors and those at high risk
6 a.m. – 8 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday for essential healthcare workers, first responders, and law enforcement. Please be prepared to show I.D.
Who: Seniors and high risk (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday). Essential workers (Tuesday and Thursday)
Regular Store Hours Change: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. every day
Delivery and pickup: Delivery available through Instacart
Lucky’s Market senior shopping hours
When: Everyday, 7 a.m. – 8 a.m. for seniors and other vulnerable community members
Who: Seniors and other vulnerable community members, including elderly, pregnant women or those with compromised immune systems
Regular Store Hours Change: 7 a.m. – 8 p.m
Delivery and pickup: Delivery available through Shipt
Walmart senior shopping hours
When: 1 hour before opening to the public, every Tuesday (most open at 7am) through April 28. Pharmacies and Vision Centers will also be open during this time. Special “pickup hour” from 7 am – 8 am daily is reserved for customers over 60, those with disabilities and in high-risk groups for being vulnerable to COVID-19 as designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. First responders also are included in Walmart’s new curbside pickup hour. By designating this hour to these groups, it will hopefully make it easier for them to reserve a pickup spot and to have their items shopped for while stock is at its highest in the morning.
Who: Senior citizens, ages 60+, high risk groups, and first responders
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): Walmart stores and Neighborhood markets will be open from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. until further notice. Stores that normally open later than 7 a.m. will continue their regular starting hours.
Grocery limits: Walmart is instituting limits on certain products, including paper products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food.
Delivery and pickup: Both are available. See pickup and delivery options here.
Currently hiring? Walmart is hiring. See positions here.
Dollar General senior shopping hours
When: 8am-9am daily, starting Tuesday, March 17
Who: Ages 60+
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): Stores will also close an hour earlier in order for employees to clean and restock shelved.
Delivery and pickup: Delivery is available for select items. Shipping charges will apply. With DG Auto Delivery you’ll Save 5% OFF orders & get Free Shipping on orders of $25+
Currently hiring? Dollar General. See positions here.
Target senior shopping hours
When: The first hour of shopping every Tuesday and Wednesday (check local store for hours)
Who: Ages 65+, customers with disabilities, pregnant shoppers, and shoppers with compromised immune systems.
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): All locations will close by 9 p.m. daily to allow for enhanced cleaning and staffing.
Store limits: limits may be placed on certain in-demand items.
Delivery and pickup: Both are available. See pickup and delivery options here.
Currently hiring? Target is hiring for seasonal and regular part-time positions. They are offering amazing employee benefits that are sensitive to the nature of the health crisis. See positions here.
Whole Foods senior shopping hours
When: 1 hour before opening to the public (most open at 8am)
Who: Ages 60+
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): Stores are open 8 am – 8 pm daily to allow for enhanced cleaning and staffing.
Store limits: limits may be placed on certain in-demand items.
Delivery and pickup: Both are available. See pickup and delivery options here.
Currently hiring? unknown; check local store
Trader Joe’s senior shopping hours
When: 9am-10am, daily
Who: Senior citizens, no age range provided. They will maintain an additional line outside for their senior customers.
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): Stores are open 9 am – 7 pm daily to allow for enhanced cleaning and staffing.
Store limits: limits may be placed on certain in-demand items.
Delivery and pickup: not available
Costco senior shopping hours
When: 8am-9am, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, starting March 24
Who: Ages 60+ and those with physical impairments
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): M-F 10:00am – 8:30pm, Sat. 9:30am – 6:00pm, Sun. 10:00am – 6:00pm
Store limits: limits may be placed on certain in-demand items.
Delivery and pickup: Delivery available
Currently hiring? unknown; check local store
Sam’s Club senior shopping hours
When: Early shopping hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for seniors and those with disabilities or compromised immune systems. This includes our Pharmacy and Optical Centers and will last until further notice. During special shopping hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., these members can shop Sam’s Club without ever leaving their car. From a designated parking location, members in need can place their order from their car. Then, a Sam’s Club associate will grab the items on the list, and the member will use Scan & Go to check out.
Who: seniors and those with disabilities or compromised immune systems
Regular Store Hour Changes (may vary): New hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday to restock, clean and sanitize each club. Sunday hours will remain 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pre-scheduled Club Pickup orders will still be available for pickup starting at 7 a.m. Optical Centers will operate 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., except for Tuesday and Thursday, when they will be open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. At this time, the Optical Centers will provide essential services only, such as repairing glasses and helping customers pick up existing orders
Store limits: limits may be placed on certain in-demand items.
Delivery and pickup: Club pickup available from 1-5 days. We encourage you to use our patented Scan & Go feature in our Sam’s Club app. Simply scan your items with your phone, add them to your cart, and skip the checkout line altogether.
Big Lots senior shopping hours
When: First hour after opening
Who: Senior citizens and those most vulnerable to this virus
Delivery and pickup: Curbside pickup is available, shipping available on select items
Walgreens senior shopping hours
When: 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays for seniors 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. On Tuesdays, Walgreens also offers a senior discount for ages 55 & older, which is 30 percent off regularly priced Walgreens brands and 20 percent off regularly priced national brands. Restrictions may apply.
Who: Senior citizens and those most vulnerable to this virus
Adjusted Store Hours: 9am-9pm weekdays, 24-hour stores are drive-thru only overnight 9pm-9am
Do you know of other stores offering dedicated shopping hours for seniors or immune-compromised individuals? Leave us a comment or email info@columbusonthecheap.com
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Val Cannell says
I’ve seen people selling or giving them away on local facebook groups or marketplace. You can also check etsy sellers. You can request a free face mask from Dhvani, but I’m not sure how quickly they will be shipped. THere are plenty of no-sew ways you can make them also, including using a teeshirt sleeve or a bandana.
https://www.columbusonthecheap.com/free-face-masks-from-dhvani-for-all-americans/
Bobbie nice says
Looking for any masks. My family of 5 are in need.