My wife and I live within walking distance of San Vicente Blvd. and so Vicente Foods and Whole Foods are where we generally go to do our shopping.
We also visit Pharmaca and CVS all the time.
I’ve been extremely impressed with the professionalism of those working the checkout lines, those doing the bagging, those re-stocking the shelves.
They are operating in what must seem to them like a war zone. In the early days of the coronavirus siege, one could almost smell the fear in the air.
Outside the stores, there is now extra security in the stores and parking lots. Inside the stores, carts were piled high, paper goods were completely wiped out and people seemed to eye each other as competitors.
Should I grab that one remaining chuck roast in the meat counter before that other person does?
After two weeks, things seem to be calming down, I think – at least a bit. This is largely thanks to the way store managers and their employees quickly took control of the situation – and how they have managed things since.
Security guards outside both Whole Foods and Vicente Foods allow in only a handful of shoppers at a time. It’s all very eerie inside the stores – but also very efficient.
Store personnel have a job to do – and they know it. They’re doing it.
Think about this: Those working at our favorite stores are breathing everyone else’s a ir all day long. I have to think fear of the unknown – might this person be a carrier? – has to take its toll after a while.
I spoke with Bob Inadomi, general manager of Vicente Foods, and he assured me the store was being wiped down and thoroughly cleaned multiple times daily. All employees practice social distancing, he said. Customers must do the same.
New, clear plastic protectors have been installed to create a physical barrier between customers and cashiers, said Inadomi. I didn’t notice these at first: The plastic is so new it’s practically invisible.
As an added measure of precaution, Inadomi said, Vicente Foods was no longer allowing bags to be brought in from the outside.
As far as I can tell, customers are generally obeying all the new rules without grumbling. Thank goodness – the last thing our grocery store heroes need is whining from some member of the public who is feeling slightly inconvenienced.
We might be in this for a while, folks. Let’s do our part to stay calm and spread good cheer as we can.
My personal good cheer was buoyed mightily the other day when I was in Whole Foods. I thought to myself I’d go check out the toilet paper section, even though I knew there would be nothing there – true of all the stores these days.
I almost couldn’t believe my eyes: There were four packages of toilet paper, each containing four rolls. A sign said customers were limited to two packages, and I quickly grabbed two.
Eight rolls ought to last a while.
Something that had been so unthinkingly basic for an entire lifetime – buying toilet paper –
suddenly felt like I was participating in a small miracle.
Another small blessing: So far, beer seems in ample supply. I need to figure out a way to pay it forward.
Just as we say “thank you for your service” to our veterans – appropriately so – we should say the same thing to those who work in our grocery stores and pharmacies.
I know I speak for all of Brentwood when I say to all those working in our stores and restaurants – and all those who work in the delivery profession: THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
