‘Crazy town’ at Kennewick Costco as shoppers concerned about coronavirus stock up
Don’t go looking for toilet paper or bottled water at the Kennewick Costco to get you through a coronavirus quarantine.
Shoppers were posting online that the store was out of both by late Tuesday afternoon Tuesday.
It was “crazy town” at the store Tuesday at noon, with shoppers stocking up on basic supplies, said shopper Annie Fowler, a sports writer at the East Oregonian.
An apparent employee of the store posted on his Facebook page: “Costco 11:15 this morning. Line backed up to the freezers. We are selling tons of water and toilet paper. This is with every register open.”
Shoppers have been patient and kind, he said.
“SHOCKED at the parking lot. What hysteria!!” posted a woman who stopped by for steak and bread at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.
The Gage Boulevard store has been unusually busy since at least Saturday, according to many shoppers.
By Tuesday, the store was limiting people to six cases of water each, and Fowler said about 80 percent of the shoppers were buying the max.
The line for bottled water ran the length of the store and then up an aisle, with people trying to get around the barrier to avoid the wait, she said.
Go for toilet paper, return with coronavirus
One Facebook poster asked how ironic it would be if you went to Costco for toilet paper and instead came home with “a nice case of coronavirus.”
“Do (people) think this is the intestinal flu?” another person joked on social media.
Susan Leckband of Benton City stopped by to get her car tires rotated, and waiting in the food court, watching shoppers cart out toilet paper.
“I did see one woman with a cart full of wine and chocolate — she’s got the right idea,” she posted.
KAPP/KVEW reported that the store not only sold 4,800 cases of water, but that it also sold out of hand sanitizer, Kirkland brand paper towels and disinfectant spray and wipes.
Other Tri-City stores told the Herald this week that their supply of hand sanitizer gel and face masks were also wiped out, and it could be weeks before they get more.
Josh Dahmen, of Costco investor relations, said there have been a surge of Costco shoppers across the nation stocking up on such items.
“We’re doing our best to get restocked,” he said, but he cautioned it may not happen immediately.