Only parking lot lights and the light from the Cub Foods signage illuminated the parking lot outside the Knollwood Cub location as about a dozen shoppers gathered just before 6 a.m. Wednesday.
Shoppers were in line to take advantage of a special hour of shopping dedicated to health care professionals, first responders, the elderly, and high risk customers.
"I'm a senior citizen, so I'm going to use this hour to get the groceries we need to survive," said Rita Walters of St. Louis Park. "It almost feels like Black Friday being out here."
Cub is among several retailers that announced temporary store hours to help with social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The last week has been stressful," Walters said. "I have grandkids and my daughter works in the healthcare industry...I'm concerned about what happens to her and her daughter."
Stories of toilet paper hoarding, in-store skirmishes, and limited availability of certain products have added to the stress for many people like Walters.
"A shopping hour for high-risk people or first responders helps a lot," she said. "It's good to know the store isn't going to be packed when I'm here looking for basic needs like bread and eggs."
Target, HyVee, and Lunds and Byerly are all adjusting hours.
Target says all stores will close by 9 p.m. while HyVee says stores will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Target joins a list of stores including Lunds and Byerly who beginning today will dedicate their first hour of shopping to high-risk customers.
For more on the COVID-19 pandemic visit wccoradio.radio.com/coronavirus
