Harris Teeter announced today that it would begin limiting the number of people in its grocery stores to 50 percent of building code capacity. At the Kitty Hawk Harris Teeter, that means 348 people will be allowed in the store at one time—quite a luxury compared to the few dozen shoppers allowed in Trader Joe’s food markets nationwide.
According to Becky Pugh, a manager at the Kitty Hawk Harris Teeter, her store’s building code capacity is 697 people.
The maximum number of people shopping in the Kitty Hawk store is usually about 100, Ms. Pugh told The Beacon, adding that the staff is prepared to control entry by lining up customers at the doors, if it has to.
Store associates are expected to monitor the number of customers to ensure that the limit is observed, according to the announcement by Harris Teeter, which is headquartered in Matthew, N.C.
Its new building capacity restriction took effect at 5 p.m. today.
Plexiglass protective shields have already been installed at checkout stands in all Harris Teeter stores, and signage has been placed throughout stores to promote social/physical distancing.
According to Ms. Pugh, many of the Kitty Hawk store’s customers already are wearing face masks and gloves.
Plexiglass shields have been installed at checkout counters at the Food Lion in the Marketplace, and it, too, is observing physical distancing in customer lines.
Food Lion also offers online shopping and drive-through pickup.
Ann G. Sjoerdsma, 4/8/20
The Southern Shores Beacon 