ACME Limits Number Of Customers In Stores Due To Coronavirus

MALVERN, PA — ACME is now limiting the amount of customers allowed inside its stores due to the coronavirus, according to the grocery chain.

The grocery chain — which is headquartered in Malvern and operates several stores throughout the Philadelphia suburbs — said Wednesday that stores will only allow store to reach about 20 percent of their total customer capacity.

ACME President Jim Perkins said in a statement on the decision that limiting customer numbers will "help reinforce proper social distancing."

"The health and safety of our customers, associates and their families is our top priority," Perkins said.

In addition to limiting the number of customers inside the stores, ACME is also sourcing masks for all store and distribution center workers. ACME expects masks to be available in all stores by the end of the week.

Acme operates 164 stores: 50 in Pennsylvania; 73 in New Jersey; 15 in Delaware; 16 in New York; six in Maryland; and four in Connecticut.

All stores are expected to be in compliance with the 20 percent capacity guideline by Thursday.

Back in mid March, ACME launched senior-only shopping hours from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday at all its stores.

Stores have also added Plexiglass partitions in our checkout lanes in all of our 164 stores

Aisles in store now have one-way movement, meaning customers can only go one direction down through aisles. ACME has also added floor markings delineating 6 feet of space at checkout stands and other areas that can cause lines to form, such as the deli, meat, seafood and pharmacy departments.

Stores are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. now to allow staffers to restock and clean the stores, as well as give workers time to rest.

ACME's pharmacy is also offering free same-day and next-day delivery of prescriptions to patients through at least May 1.

Returns are no longer being accepted at all ACME stores as well out of an abundance of caution.

ACME said shoppers who have reusable bags can still use them, but are asked to bag their own items to protect workers. Workers will bag items when using store-provided bags.

ACME has also taken on enhanced measures to clean and disinfect all departments, restrooms and other high-touch points of the store throughout the day, as well as a deep cleanse at the end of each business day. Cart wipes and hand sanitizer stations continue to be available at key locations in stores.

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