As last-minute shoppers picked up as many essential items as possible ahead of the big snowstorm, it led to lots of empty shelves, whether you were in the fruit section or looking for meat.

“They were selling out of produce like fruit and vegetables, really very, very fast,” said Lucy Colon of Rego Park, who visited a Stop and Shop on Union Turnpike in Forest Hills, Queens.

What You Need To Know

  • Stop and Shop on Union Turnpike in Queens had many empty shelves in the produce and fruit sections

  • Many customers were panic buying, stocking up on essential items to make it through the next few days

  • Storm preparations lead to a long lines at busy supermarkets citywide

Colon wasn’t too worried about the potential for lots of snow, but what did concern her was the possibility of not having enough food to get through the next few days. 

“We got greens for like salads, onions, potatoes, cereal. I got hummus, which I love,” Colon told NY1.

Panic buying ahead of a major storm is nothing new; however, Colon was surprised by the sheer number of empty shelves that she encountered at her favorite supermarket. 

“It was very busy!” Colon said. “It was one of the busiest days I’ve seen, and we’ve been coming here forever.”

Due to the pandemic, some shoppers like Ernie Yeager of Glendale were buying groceries to bring back to loved one who are seniors. 

“I’m shopping for somebody that’s in their 90s right now,” Yeager said. “I want to make sure they have enough food … Bread, milk, eggs, some chopped meat they wanted.”

Yeager told NY1 he was shopping on behalf of his elderly mother, so that she can stay home and stay safe.

“She hasn’t been out of the house in a long time,” Yeager said.

Yeager also admited he picked the very last package chopped meat.