Publix ends senior shopping hour, will stay open later

Publix stores have extended their hours and will now be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The supermarket chain had shortened its operating hours in response to the coronavirus pandemic, to give its employees more time for stocking and cleaning. Before the virus, Publix stores would close at 10 or 11 p.m. Pharmacy hours also have returned to normal.

The store will no longer dedicate the opening hour for seniors or those who may be more vulnerable to the virus. It also will stop devoting the last hour to those who work in health care.

Publix still encourages those who liked the senior shopping hour to come in at 7 a.m., when the store is less crowded and freshly sanitized.

The Lakeland chains says it’s still keeping up with its cleaning regimen and other precautions, such as one-way aisles, in an effort to decrease the spread of the virus.

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