Metro Detroit Grocery Stores Update Hours and Policies During the Coronavirus Outbreak #DetroitFood

Honey Bee La Colmena in Hubbard Richard. | Stock Detroit

A helpful guide to navigating the confusing new hours, policies, and procedures at local stores during the novel coronavirus pandemic

When Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a “stay home, stay safe” executive order in response to the threat of the novel coronavirus, it closed all but essential business activities throughout the state. Because food access is a necessity, grocery stores — alongside restaurants and farms — are considered vital operations during the pandemic.

But going out, even to shop for a bag of flour or a frozen pizza, still comes with the inherent risk of spreading the virus. For that reason, many Michigan grocers are accommodating the elderly and immunocompromised with special hours to help limit people’s potential exposure or adjusting hours to keep buildings clean and stocked. Some local restaurants are even converting into mini-markets to provide neighborhoods with hard-to-find home goods like toilet paper and baking supplies.

As “we are all in this together” emerges as the prevailing rallying cry of the crisis, that sentiment is ever more evident in the place where we need it most, but expected it the least: the local grocery store. Below is a guide to grocery store hours in metro Detroit as well as local restaurants that are converting to limited market offerings.

If we missed a spot, send Eater the details at detroit@eater.com and we’ll keep the guide as updated as possible. Do your best to spread out. Visit local stores to support community businesses. Avoid peak shopping hours. Stay home if you’re sick. Cover your coughs with your elbow. Wash your hands. Be kind to your grocer and don’t hoard.

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Local Grocery Stores

• Busch’s Fresh Food Market: This local grocer has reduced its hours to 7 a.m. through 9 p.m. to allow for extra stocking and cleaning time. The store has also eliminated all self-serve areas. While they have not specified hours for high-risk customers, they are encouraging customers to utilize online shopping and to look out for their neighbors in need.
• Honey Bee La Colmena: This local store has adjusted its hours to 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday to allow for more frequent cleaning and restocking.
• E&L Supermercado: This Southwest Detroit market has installed sanitizing stations around the store and is maintaining regular hours from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
• Prince Valley Market: Prince Valley is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
• Village Market: This Grosse Pointe store is opening an hour early at 7 a.m. for seniors age 60 and up, with general public hours from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Western Market: Adults 60 or older, pregnant women, individuals who are immunocompromised, healthcare workers, and people with pre-existing conditions like lung disease or diabetes may shop from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Sunday. The general public can shop from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. The store is also asking patrons to follow additional rules to help keep staff and customers safe, such as temporarily banning the use of reusable bags and containers.
• Eastern Market: Eastern Market has initiated some new safety protocols for customers, including offering a Tuesday drive-thru bulk market pick up. Details are available on the market’s homepage and Facebook page.
• City Market Detroit: This small, downtown Detroit store is open 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.
• Plum Market: Michigan’s Plum Market locations are open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with carts and baskets being disinfected with each use. The downtown and New Center locations are temporarily closed.
• University Foods: This Midtown-area grocery store has instituted temporary store hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
• 168 Asian Mart: This Asian food store is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily in Madison Heights. The company is limiting the number of shoppers allowed inside at a time and sanitizing carts as well as providing gloves and face masks.
• Holiday Market: Beginning March 30, Holiday Market will begin implementing temporary store hours with a shopping hour for senior and immunocompromised customers from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Wednesday mornings. General store hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
• Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market: Senior and immunocompromised shoppers can visit this specialty market from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. The store has also temporarily changed general shopping hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Reusable bags and bottle returns are not allowed at this time.
• Good Stuff Corktown: This small market is open with fresh bread, beer, wine, and other household items. The store is limiting traffic to one person in the shop at a time.
• Cantoro Italian Market: This local chain is offering curbside grocery service for minimum purchases of $25. Email your grocery list, phone number, and a description of your vehicle to info@cantoromarket.com. Describe the essentials you need. The store will call and confirm the order and details for payment. Customers must bring their own pen to sign a receipt. Hours vary depending on the location. See the company website for more information.

Temporary Markets

• Marrow: In addition to carry out and delivery meals, the store is also staying open with local vegetables, eggs, meat, stock, pasta, salt, and other pantry staples. Customers can place an order by phone at 313-652-0200 for pick up between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily or shop online for delivery via Mercato.
• Folk: Customers can order a handful of to-go menu items like gluten-free waffles, and also purchase beer, wine, and groceries and household items like long grain jasmine rice, organic all purpose flour, and toilet paper. Saturday farm boxes with a mix of produce, eggs, milk, bacon, grains, yogurt, and cheese are also available for $50 each. Place orders for pick up through Toast Lab or for delivery through Doordash. The store is also set up with cleaning protocols for those who would like to drop in and shop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
• Rocco’s Italian Deli: Rocco’s in Cass Corridor is still offering a regular takeout and delivery menu as well as take-and-bake meals. The restaurant has also beefed up its selection of groceries and wine. Customers can arrange for curbside pick up. The updated hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
• Farm Field Table: Customers can order meat for curbside pick up from both the Ferndale and Grosse Pointe Park locations of Farm Field Table.
• Mongers’ Provisions: This local cheese and chocolate shop is still open and selling cheeses, chocolate, crackers, and other pantry items. The store is currently open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Order online for shipment or delivery.
• Sister Pie: This beloved West Village pie shop is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday with limited service and a regularly updated menu. In addition to cookies, sandwiches, and salads, the bakery is selling staples like eggs, milk, flour, and produce. The store will even deliver items to the elderly and leave them on the porch. To help sustain business, they are encouraging online ordering and remain open for takeout.
• Michigan Farm to Freezer: This facility is currently offering frozen fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices for pick-up. Orders can be placed online for between $40 and $50 dollars per box.

Chain Stores

• Aldi: The discount chain is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The stores are asking customers to let the first hour be utilized by high-risk customers, and also requesting that everyone practice extensive social distancing. Some European locations are even installing screens between cashiers and patrons.
• Dollar General: This Texas-based retailer is dedicating the first hour of business to the elderly and immunocompromised. While it stocks limited grocery items, the chain does offer cabinet staples and a number of frozen and refrigerated menu items.
• Meijer: New store hours are from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, first-responders — including medical personnel and police officers — and senior citizens are able to shop Meijer stores from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.
• Whole Foods Market Customers 60 and up are welcome to begin shopping at 8 a.m. The market opens to the general public from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Costco: Costco is temporarily adding special operating hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for people 60 and older and those with physical disabilities. The pharmacy is also open during this hour. This applies to all locations except the Business Centers, which will remain open during regularly from 10 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
• Trader Joe’s: Metro Detroit-area Trader Joe’s have implemented temporary hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Kroger: The Midwest’s largest grocery retailer has been a premier resource for metro area shoppers. The chain has changed hours to 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with exclusive shopping for seniors and other vulnerable shoppers from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The chain has also announced a $300 bonus for all full-time employees and $150 for all part-time employees.

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