Local grocery stores adjusted their operating hours several times this week in the midst of the winter weather.
Walmart closed early at 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to a post on the local store’s Facebook page. A representative for the store could not be reached that day.
Brookshire Grocery Company, which operates two stores in El Dorado, also adjusted its operations. The North West location was closed on both Wednesday and Thursday. The South West Ave locations was open until 3 p.m. on Wednesday and until 5 p.m. on Thursday.
The company said it will continue to monitor the weather conditions at each store location and adjust as necessary. Brookshire’s has also been updating its Facebook page with the latest announcements on operating hours.
Morgan Countryman, communications manger for Brookshire’s, pointed to a statement released by the family-owned business.
“Brookshire Grocery Company is dedicated to safely serving our customers and communities through this winter storm. Our hearts and prayers go out to all affected by this winter storm. Our top priority is the safety of our employee-partners and customers. We are continuously evaluating our store hours to ensure our employee-partners can safely travel to and from work,” the statement read.
The statement also says the company is working hard to try and meet the uptick in demand for household goods because of the storm; notes the state of their facilities; and says Brookshire’s hopes patrons will continue to be patient as they continue to assemble their store teams for full operations.
“One of our Company’s Core Values is “The Team Matters” which means we are there for one another. We are encouraging employee-partners who do not feel safe to travel or leave their house to stay home. Our management teams are coordinating rides for our employees who want to work and need a lift from a trusted driver. Our stores are short-staffed, and we are seeing a rise in customers’ needs so we are asking for the public’s patience in the coming days as we work as a team to serve through this storm,” the statement says.
The News-Times also called local grocer Mac’s Fresh Market for comment on the store’s operation but no representative could be reached for a statement.