Does Costco Still Have Senior Hours?

During the recent Covid-19 pandemic, Costco created senior hours where older customers could shop in peace, with no crowds running around them. In doing so, shoppers could shop freely without worrying about Covid exposure. To understand more about Costco senior hours, read on to find out.

Does Costco Still Have Senior Hours?

From April 18, 2022, Costco stopped dedicating senior hours to its most vulnerable customers and those at higher risk of Covid-19 exposure. The retailer scrapped the senior hours after an increase in vaccinations and relaxation of strict measures during the pandemic.

In March 2020, Costco started offering an extra hour of shopping for people at a high risk of contracting Covid-19 and those with underlying health conditions. These people included people with disabilities, seniors, healthcare workers, and first responders.

Costco’s senior hours were for customers aged 60 or older to shop during scheduled times when it isn’t too busy. According to Costco’s website, warehouses in the US and Puerto Rico would be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 am to 10 am to enable the seniors to shop.

However, some warehouses’ had special hours from 8 am – 9 am. They included warehouses in Brooklyn, New York, Culver City, California, Iwilei (Honolulu), Hawaii, and Westbury, New York.

Costco members working in healthcare, including pharmacists and workers with hospital IDs, benefitted from these special hours. In addition, first responders such as EMTs, police officers, and firefighters could also shop at Costco during senior hours.

Why Did Costco Drop Senior Hours?

Costco’s senior hours were to help protect older people from contracting Covid-19 by keeping them from exposure to sick shoppers. But as more people got vaccinated, it became less necessary for Costco to offer special hours for seniors, healthcare workers, and first responders.

On March 14, 2022, Costco announced that it would drop senior hours from April 18, 2022. People who didn’t want to shop during regular hours could do so online at costco.com.

What Other Stores Still Offer Senior Hours?

After the rise in the number of vaccinated people, many grocery outlets across the US stopped offering special shopping hours for older shoppers. Some chains, though, continue to provide the senior hours for shoppers over a certain age and others who are more vulnerable to COVID-19 exposure. Stores that are still offering senior hours include.

• Food City: Senior hours start from 7 am – 8 am every day. Eligible persons are 65 years or older customers and those with underlying health conditions. They can also get prescriptions from Food City pharmacies at 7 am on Mondays.
• BJ’s Wholesale: Most stores offer senior hours to customers aged 60 and over from 8 am – 9 am, Monday to Saturday. First responders can shop on Sundays from 8 am – 9 am.
•  Lowe’s Food: senior hours are from 7 am – 8 am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Harris Teeter: senior hours are from 6 am – 8 am on Mondays and Thursdays. Between 9 am – 2 pm on Thursdays, the retailer reserves the Express Lane online shoppers’ pick-up time for older adults.
• Dollar General: dedicates the first hour of shopping every day to senior shoppers, although they don’t specify the age. The retailer’s store hours vary in different locations.

FAQs

Do other Costco locations still have senior hours?

No, Costco announced that it would stop offering senior hours from April 18, 2022, in all its warehouse locations.

Will Costco continue senior hours?

No, Costco has stopped offering senior hours in all its warehouse locations. This is due to the rise in the number of vaccinated people and the ease of Covid-19 restrictions.

When can seniors shop at Costco?

During the pandemic, seniors could shop at Costco from 9 am -10 am Tuesdays and Thursdays. Nowadays, seniors can shop in-store or online at any time after Costco dropped the senior hours.

What time does Costco open and close?

Most Costco stores open from 10 am to 8.30 pm on weekdays. They open from 9.30 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and from 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays. You can find the operating hours of your nearest Costco store using their online store locator.

Conclusion

From March 2020, Costco had dedicated shopping hours for seniors aged 60 and above. Other people who could shop at this time included first responders, healthcare workers, and persons with disabilities.

However, from April 18, 2022, Costco dropped the senior hours. This happened after an increase in the number of vaccinated people and ease of Covid-19 restrictions.