Locally-owned grocery stores, markets in Centre County adapt to ‘new normal’ from COVID-19

While shoppers rush to the stores for pantry staples to hold them over during times of social distancing and self-isolation, some Centre County retail businesses — particularly locally-owned food retailers and grocery stores — are discovering a “new normal” when it comes to keeping their shelves stocked.

Despite changing shopping patterns and demands, though, local markets are adapting.

“Business has doubled,” said Russ Burkholder of Burkholder’s Market in Spring Mills. “Keeping frozen (foods) and groceries stocked has been very challenging.”

Most shoppers have been looking for staples such as flour, sugar, bread and milk, he said. And with toilet paper and cleaning supplies “flying off the shelves,” Burkholder said there’s a limit on the number of some items shoppers can purchase.

However, some retailers are finding that, while shoppers were stocking up several weeks ago, self-isolation and the most recent stay-at-home order means fewer shoppers most recently.

Shaun Knight, co-owner of Maine Bay & Berry in Lemont, said while the seafood shop has been able stay open because it’s considered a specialty food store by Pennsylvania, the business is not immune to the widespread economic impacts of COVID-19.

“The first couple weeks, sales were strong because people were stocking up on product. This is the first week where we are seeing sales starting to fall significantly as more and more people are staying home,” he said. “We will know more by the end of this week as to what the ‘new normal’ will be for the time being.”

He said that many shoppers are stocking up on fresh seafood — something currently difficult to find in larger grocery stores — as well as homemade soups, which come frozen and vacuum-sealed, but that they’ve “not had an issue with anyone coming and hoarding our products.”

Michele Briggs, owner of Nature’s Pantry in State College, said she and her team have also mostly been spared the “crazy pandemic shopping.”

“We’ve certainly had some people do that, but for the most part, our customers are respectful of not grabbing every item on the shelf,” she said.

She credits her customer base as being community-focused, with most shoppers conscious that friends and neighbors require the same goods. She also gives kudos to her local suppliers, who, she says, “have been champs as far as getting product to us.”

As Nature’s Pantry relies heavily on the local supply chain, including local producers and farmers, Briggs is confident the local food supply is not in danger, pandemic or not.

“The nature of agriculture commodities (is that produce) is becoming ready every week,” she said. “No one is going to starve.”

Still, Briggs notes her customers have been turning to more staple items, such as flour and yeast.

“Everyone’s home baking,” she said.

Briggs cautions those stocking up on non-perishable items such as pasta and grains to store them properly, especially as pantry pests may become more of an issue with the seasonal change.

Behind the scenes, the COVID-19 effect on Nature’s Pantry might be a little more acute. Briggs said she’s shortening her hours in the coming days to give staff more downtime, as they deal with a more stressful working experience, fulfilling large orders, keeping shelves stocked and increasing sanitizing and cleaning. New hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Burkholder’s Market also has new temporary hours — 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

For those looking to maintain a safe distance from others, Burkholder recommends an evening trip to the market.

“As of now, anytime after 6 p.m. has been very slow,” he said. “Shop between 6 and 9 p.m. to have minimal contact with people.”

Earlier this week, Burkholder’s Market launched online ordering on the business’s website, burkholdersmarket.com, for curbside pickup service. Phone orders are currently not accepted.

Nature’s Pantry is also currently offering curbside pickup service, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., with orders taken at naturespantrypa.com and via email (naturespantrypaorders@gmail.com) or phone. The business also now asks families to only send one shopper into the store (with a request for no children in the store at this time) and warns that some shoppers may be asked to wait in their cars before entering, to reduce the number of shoppers in the space at one time.

Some retailers are closing to walk-in business completely, offering a contact-free shopping experience only. Way Fruit Farm in Port Matilda is one such retailer, open for call-ahead and online ordering, with orders taken on the business’s website, www.wayfruitfarm.com. Delivery is also available.

Maine Bay & Berry is likewise making changes to its operations in response to COVID-19, offering delivery service, pre-orders for in-store pickup and takeout for prepared foods. Store hours are currently 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, noon-6 p.m. on Sunday and closed Monday.

“To address the highly contagious nature of this disease, we started new services, including curbside pickup and delivery,” Knight said. “While the delivery was originally for those 60-plus or immuno-compromised, we changed our initial delivery service since those that are getting ill are now (across) all demographics. Our free delivery is now for any customer within a 10-mile radius.”

This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 6:00 AM.