Area Hardware Stores Essential, Busy, and Changing Procedures
As we enter the first full week of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s executive order for people to stay at home, hardware stores are seeing steady business. Robbinsdale Ace Hardware manager Molly Welna says despite modified hours and shopping procedures, her store is busy. “Last week,” says Welna, “When were were supposed to be social distancing, we were probably up 25 percent.”
Customers aren’t allowed in the store anymore. Instead, the store is running a curbside pickup program. Customers can order what they need at a desk in back of the store, and staff will do the shopping for them. The store is also offering free delivery throughout the COVID-19 stay-at-home order. To have time to clean, and give at-risk staff the opportunity to stay home, the store has changed its hours – it’s now open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturdays, and closed entirely on Sundays.
Welna’s also noticed an uptick in sales of certain items – and perhaps not what you’d expect. Cleaning supplies are, of course, doing well, but so are products for spring projects. “A ton of paint is going out,” says Welna. “A lot of spring stuff too – a lot more people are starting their seeds inside compared to last year. We’ve had a lot of potting soil going out.”
Welna is confident the store will survive the COVID-19 upheaval, but she is working on getting a loan to help pay employees who are staying home to avoid possible exposure to the virus.
Meanwhile, big-box hardware stores are also open, but with changes.
- Stores have cut back hours. They’re open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
- Staff is performing extra cleaning and sanitizing of the stores.
- Opening times have not changed, but stores now close every day at 6pm.
- Staff is performing extra cleaning of the stores.
- Stores are promoting social distancing by limiting how many customers can be in the building, putting distancing markers at registers, and making reminder announcements over the PA.
- Opening times have not changed, but stores now close at 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 p.m. Sunday.
- Staff is performing extra cleaning of the stores.
- Stores are promoting social distancing by making reminder announcements over the PA, and putting up social distancing signs.
- The company is working on expanding curbside pickup options.
- Deliveries will be left at the door or at the garage, and staff will ask if anyone in a house has tested positive for COVID-19 before doing in-home installations.
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