“I’ve never seen anything like this, when fear and panic are leading people to buy things, that’s what causes this kind of stuff,” says lifelong family grocer Joe Zuppardo.
Zuppardo says the scores of people coming to his store have been in a near frenzy.
Zuppardo heaps praise on his employees for working extra hard to keep shelves, cold cases, freezers and fresh food displays stocked against a tide of shoppers that come in waves and seemingly leave with everything they just put out.
On Friday a Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Deputy held incoming shoppers at the door so lines at check stands could be processed through.
The crowd calming measure is to hold down on any frustrations shoppers may have and to meet social distancing requirements as required by the Health Department.
“We’ve been blessed that a lot of my employees first off are not getting sick,” Zuppardo says. “I’m on the loud speakers all the time telling people ‘please keep your distance’. Don’t talk to our employees to socialize. If you need direction or you need something, that’s fine, but we’re not here to gossip.”
Customers have their say as well. Many are tired of shoppers who are panic buying. Christina left Zuppardo’s with a full cart, but was still looking for one elusive item. “Except for bread, everything else I found. Any kind of whole wheat bread… They didn’t have any.”
Christina said she’s been to stores all over town looking for the things she wants and not finding them, thanks to hoarders: “It’s not good to buy a lot in bulk, because you’re not helping out the rest of the community by doing that.”
Matt feels much the same way: “Everybody needs to be in line, being patient. You can’t take everything that everybody needs. Everything in moderation.”
“I think management’s been trying to stay on top of that and not let people over take things,” Nina said, praising Zuppardo’s restock strategy. She related she’d been to Winn Dixie and found a market eviscerated of goods and employees waiting for the next truck to arrive so they could restock.
And despite good availability of meat, bread, soda, fruits and vegetables, Chantal says there’s one elusive item: “Toilet paper is in short supply pretty much everywhere you go. So… Nothing different here!”
