Louisville Krogers expand store hours and dial back shopping times for seniors

Louisville Courier Journal

Shoppers at this Kroger in Louisville's east end were left with slim supplies of fresh meat over the weekend.

As businesses reopen following pandemic shutdowns, grocery giant Kroger announced Friday that it's expanding some hours of operation at its Louisville regional stores and slicing designated times for over age 60 and high-risk customers for shopping.

The new hours at many Kroger and Jay C Food stores in Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Southern Illinois restore some of the hours that were slashed during the coronavirus outbreak and also provide Wednesday mornings for high-risk shoppers. Grocery stores were immediately deemed essential during the pandemic and have remained open.

Kroger said that its stores, along with Jay C branded operations, will feature that vary according to location. Most Kroger stores will open at 6 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. or midnight. Most Jay C stores will open at 7 a.m. and close between 10 p.m. and midnight. Exact store hours are posted on the Kroger.com website, and shoppers should check the individual store location for details.

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Beginning in June, Kroger’s Louisville division stores intend to block 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. or 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. (based on individual hours of operation) on Wednesdays for people 60 and older and high-risk folks as defined by the Centers for Disease Control. The company previously had blocked out most weekday mornings at area stores to allow time for at-risk shoppers to make a grocery run.

“Our senior shoppers have reached out to let us know how important these designated hours are to them,” Erin Grant, manager of corporate affairs for Kroger’s Louisville division, said in a statement. “We encourage all customers to respect these special hours as we work to protect our more vulnerable community members.”

Kroger operates 117 stores in Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois, and roughly 40, including Jay C, in the multi-county Louisville area.

A few shoppers gather outside the Kroger's store on Breckenridge Lane in Louisville, Kentucky, shortly after 6 a.m. The scene was much calmer than the day before when shoppers rushed the doors. March 20, 2020

Grace Schneider: 502-582-4082; gschneider@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @gesinfk. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today:courier-journal.com/graces