GROCERY SHOPPING: Checking in on West Seattle stores’ hours, with one about to make changes

| Coronavirus | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Periodically during the pandemic, we’ve been checking on local grocery stores’ hours, including the hours they set aside for higher-risk shoppers, particularly people 60 and older. But it’s been a while since last check-in, so when we got word that one store is making changes starting tomorrow, we decided to check in on all of West Seattle’s standalone stores:

PCC (2749 California SW): Starting Monday (January 4th), PCC is expanding its hours to 6 am-11 pm and its seniors/at-risk shopping hours to 6-8 am Wednesdays and Saturdays

WEST SEATTLE THRIFTWAY (California/Fauntleroy; WSB sponsor): 5 am-midnight daily, 7 am-9 am Tuesdays and Thursdays for seniors

METROPOLITAN MARKET (Admiral/41st): Open 6 am-11 pm daily, no senior/high-risk shopping hours

QFC (4550 42nd SW, Westwood Village): 6 am-11 pm daily, 7-8 am Mondays and Wednesdays for seniors/high-risk

SAFEWAY (28th/Roxbury, Jefferson Square, 2622 California SW): 5 am-1 am daily, 6-9 am Tuesdays and Thursdays for seniors/high-risk

TRADER JOE’S (4545 Fauntleroy Way SW): 8 am-9 pm daily, first hour Wednesday and Sunday (8 am-9 am) set aside for seniors/disabled

WHOLE FOODS MARKET (4755 Fauntleroy Way SW): 8 am-9 pm daily, seniors/high-risk/disabled 7-8 am Friday

John Smith January 3, 2021 (8:56 pm)

Isn’t Metropolitan Market right across the street from a multi-story seniors building? It seems strange that Metropolitan Market would be the only grocery store listed with no seniors/high-risk hours.

John Smit January 3, 2021 (9:10 pm)

Here it is: Brookdale Admiral Heights Senior Living Solutions is right across 42nd Ave. SW from Metropolitan Market.
WSB January 3, 2021 (9:16 pm)

MM made that change back in late June, saying that (as still archived here) since they at the time expanded overall store hours, “Based on these extended hours we are no longer offering a dedicated Senior Shopping Hour.”
22blades January 4, 2021 (4:17 am)

The aisles are more crowded. No sanitizer ( I personally like the hand wash station but NOBODY uses it (yuk)). Shelves can’t stay stocked. No senior hours. No to this customer.

John Smith January 3, 2021 (9:51 pm)

Thanks, WSB. I don’t know of another West Seattle grocery store right across the street from a seniors housing building, though, so it still seems strange to currently be the only West Seattle grocery store with no seniors hours.

Heshee January 3, 2021 (10:28 pm)

Yeah this seals the fate of Met Market in my book. The times I’ve been over the past few months it’s been too crowded for my taste, and I’m not into huge crowds at this time. The last two times it has been so incredibly packed with people that I opted to leave asap in order to at least attempt to live through this pandemic. I will never shop there again after realizing the lack of respect for our elderly community that deserves our support and diligence at this time.

Agree January 4, 2021 (6:41 am)

Heard.
Frog January 4, 2021 (11:17 am)

It’s like the old saying: No one goes there anymore — it’s too crowded.
East Coast Cynic January 4, 2021 (2:35 pm)

Considering the upscale clientele and prices of Metropolitan Market, I’m surprised more of those shoppers aren’t resorting to delivery or outside pickup to protect themselves from the virus.

Donna January 4, 2021 (6:08 am)

For the first 7 months I only used delivery and pick up groceries. Then some of the restrictions lifted and I admit to some pandemic fatigue. A friend of mine raved about the daily early morning senior only shopping hours at Met Market. I guess she didn’t know they had been discontinued. But I started making early morning shopping trips, between 6-7:15am., and every morning there were only 1-3 cars in the parking lot when I arrived, sometimes up to 8-9 if I finished as late as 7:45. But if I finished by 7 there would only be 4-5 cars max. While shopping I mostly encountered employees stocking shelves, and employees in the meat, deli and bakery depts., along with of course the cashier and sometimes bagger. I don’t see how there could be official senior hours less crowded with other customers or enough employees to keep the store functioning. I will say that I haven’t been in the store since the latest surge as I’ve gone back to only delivery and pickup for the last 3 weeks so I cannot say with certainty that those numbers are still holding true. Is it difficult to get up and moving to get groceries at 6am? Yes. Were more customers arriving by 7:30 am? Yes. However, at least up until 3 weeks ago I was happily certain I was shopping during a seniors only timeframe.

Delridge January 4, 2021 (6:46 am)

Any idea if the PCC hours change is for all stores? I typically shop at another one of their locations outside of WS. I know generally these types of changes like business hours are done across the board for the sake of consistency but, during covid who knows. Checked their website and looked at the hours but, I’m guessing it’s just not updated yet, perhaps they are intentionally doing a soft change of hours and not advertising it.

WSB January 4, 2021 (8:46 am)

The note to us said the 6 am-11 pm hours change is for all stores. Their website indeed was not updated as of when I wrote this but the note is from their in-house chainwide marketing department so it’s reliable info. – TR

Rooster January 4, 2021 (8:16 am)

I’ve been doing my weekly shopping at Met Mkt before 8:00 am. It’s never been crowded.

DB40 January 4, 2021 (9:43 am)

QFC didn’t have any checkers at 7:00 am today, Monday. I was told they all called in sick. I had to self check.

WSB January 4, 2021 (9:46 am)

Which QFC?
- DB40 January 4, 2021 (9:48 am)
  
  Alaska Junction QFC
  - Covfefe January 4, 2021 (10:44 am)
    
    Broooooooo wtf. I was there Friday. Time to go get tested :(

momosmom January 4, 2021 (11:20 am)

Who can afford to shop at Met Market anyways that’s on a fixed income?

Trees4Me January 4, 2021 (3:48 pm)

I Love Metropolitan market. I’m 68 years old and I am ok shopping with everyone else.

trickycoolj January 4, 2021 (5:17 pm)

QFC in Westwood is killing it with their curbside pickup! The produce is TONS better than what Amazon Fresh/Whole Foods has been giving us which half the time requires refunds because it’s rotten inside out or just plain rotten and oozing all over the rest of the groceries (that was a fun one). We haven’t been to Costco since before Thanksgiving and it’s about time to stock up on some bulk goods, anyone been lately?

winniegirl January 4, 2021 (6:51 pm)

I make a mid-week visit every few weeks and it’s surprisingly low key. I usually do self check and am out of there very quickly. The parking lot always seems way more packed than the store for some reason. I still see families shopping for some reason which makes no sense to me – and yes I mean 2 adults plus one or more children. One person per household would be a nice guideline I think.

tk January 4, 2021 (8:22 pm)

John & others- I seriously doubt seniors from Brookdale Admiral Heights need to buy much food at the Met, as all of their meals are all included in the senior plan.I agree with others that it’s easy to find less crowded times to shop at the Met, especially early a.m. during the week. Not a big issue.