Thanksgiving Shoppers Grab Last-Minute Groceries In Twin Cities
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. (WCCO) – Shoppers needing to get last-minute items to prepare a Thanksgiving meal packed grocery stores Wednesday. Bailey Metzger, produce manager at Cub Foods, said they've spent several days gearing up for the rush.
"We want to be ready. It's simple as that," she said.
She suggests that shoppers be prepared as well, mainly with the help of a list. Shopper Judy Chucker walked into the store with one in hand.
"I will always forget the most important thing unless I have a list," Chucker said. "Sometimes I'll forget it even if I have a list. Go figure!"
Chucker, like many others, was weaving up and down the aisles at Cub Foods on what staff consider their busiest day of the year. The St. Louis Park Orioles hockey team was also at the store, but not to shop. The players were helping bag groceries to keep the lines moving.
Metzger said making sure shelves are stocked is a top priority as people load their carts ahead of the holiday, but shopper Wenbo Chen went a different route. He bought a precooked, frozen Thanksgiving dinner from the deli.
It included a turkey, corn, mashed potatoes, a pumpkin pie and more. All he needs to do is heat everything up.
"I don't know how to cook the turkey," Chen said. "So whatever they have ready for the meal, perfect for us."
He eliminated the stress but for others that's just part of the recipe for cooking up the perfect holiday meal.
"It's just really fun to see people out and about and just making sure that they're getting everything that they need on their lists," said shopper Kent Gordon.
The Cub Foods location in St. Louis Park closes at 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving, but other locations have different hours. The Lunds and Byerly's location in downtown Minneapolis will be closed, so it may be a good idea for shoppers to call ahead to find out the holiday hours for their local grocery store.