Costco, Walmart Cut Back on Shoppers Allowed in Store, Again

Grocery stores and supermarkets in Pasadena have ramped up safety measures to comply with state and local advisories on social distancing, as COVID-19 continues to threaten communities across the U.S.

Walmart has added new signs on the floor on their checkout lanes to show shoppers what the six-foot space for social distancing looks like. Last weekend, the chain started limiting the number of customers who can be in a store at once, allowing no more than five customers for each 1,000 square feet of space at a given time, or roughly 20 percent of a store’s capacity. They’ve also put up sneeze guards by their cash registers, and promised to regularly disinfect shopping carts to protect shoppers from infection.

Also last weekend, Target started actively monitoring and limiting the number of shoppers allowed inside their stores based on each particular store’s square footage. Earlier, Target installed signage, floor decals and recorded audio messages to encourage social distancing.

Target has also stopped accepting returns or exchanges in-store, effective for the next three weeks, and said they won’t be selling reusable bags to prevent the spread of infection.

Target’s stores in Pasadena are located at 3121 and 777 E. Colorado Blvd.

Kroger Companies, which owns the Ralphs Supermarkets chain in Southern California, including three stores in Pasadena, said they will be installing plexiglass shields at their checkouts, along with floor markings that will show customers as well as employees where to stand at a safe distance.

Starting Tuesday, the chain will begin to limit the number of customers allowed in its stores at any one time. Under the new rules, all stores will only be able to reach 50 percent capacity. Kroger said they will be using new technology using infrared sensors and predictive analytics to monitor new capacity limits.

Ralphs has stores at 320 W. Colorado Blvd., 160 N. Lake Ave., and 3601 E. Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena.

Albertsons, which owns Pavilions at The Shops on Lake Avenue in Pasadena and Pavilions at 1213 Fair Oaks Ave. in South Pasadena, was one of the first retailers that installed sneeze guards at their checkout counters to keep customers and staff safe from infection.

They’ve also started using floor markers to emphasize the value of social distancing.

“Social distancing can make a significant difference in our communities as we face this pandemic,” Albertsons CEO Vivek Sankaran said in a recent statement. “Our stores are following the guidance from the CDC with regard to regular hand washing and enhanced cleaning and sanitization protocols. We believe that the next step toward helping slow and contain the COVID-19 virus is by reinforcing proper social distancing whenever possible.”

For the moment, all self-service areas at Pavilions, such as salad bars, are closed, the company said.

Publix Food and Pharmacy, which has a branch in South Pasadena, has also launched additional measures to protect workers and customers. Recently, Publix confirmed they would add plexiglass shields to all their checkout lanes, pharmacies, and customer service desks starting this weekend.

Whole Foods, owned by Amazon, earlier shut down its self-service food bars to prevent the spread of COVID-19. It has also closed in-store dining areas, limited customers to takeout-only food service, and started closing stores two hours early so workers can restock shelves and sanitize interior and exterior areas.

Whole Foods has stores at 465 S. Arroyo Parkway and 3751 E. Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena.