TULSA, Okla. — Employees at Perry's Food Store in Tulsa are busy preparing family meat packs and ringing up customers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This family-owned supermarket is one of the few essential businesses allowed to be open, and it is attracting new customers.
"I wanted to minimize my contact with people," says Sally Ramirez, who normally shops at grocery store chains.
At Perry's, only 10 customers are allowed inside the store at one time to follow safety guidelines for social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In addition, customers must stand six feet apart.
"We've had no pushback from customers. They all want to be in compliance as well," explains Sherry Hoort, co-owner of Perry's Food Store.
She says they take the health of their customers and employees seriously and are taking every precaution necessary.
The small grocery store is also drawing customers for its essential items, such as eggs and toilet paper rolls, which have been recently hard to find in other places.
"It's a toss-up if I go to Reasor's or Walmart I don't know if they will have product," says Ramirez, "So I decided to come here knowing that they're local and also knowing that they're going to be in stock."
What Perry's Food Store is known for since 1940 when it first opened its doors, is its meat market and continues to be the case today amid the pandemic.
"I got a meat family pack, so that I can distribute it to family members, so it minimizes the amount of time that I have to go out as well," says Ramirez.
While the employees behind the meat counter are keeping busy during this time, some customers are also giving back.
"We've had a customer buy pizza for the crew. We had another customer who go an edible fruit arrangement for the crew," says Hoort.
Starting on April 1, the store will be reducing its hours at its two locations: 1005 S. Lewis and 8013-D S. Sheridan, Tulsa.
The new hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
This is one of several local small businesses and restaurants we continue to highlight in our "We're Open Green Country" series. Visit our website, for a full list of businesses. You may also fill out a submission form for a small business that is still operating and offering services.
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