Raley’s unveils new flagship market. What a store opening looks like during the pandemic

Customers said they started lining up at 5 a.m. in Land Park. Many were hunting for toilet paper and other items in short supply around Sacramento amid the coronavirus pandemic. But this was also a special occasion.

Shoppers were camped out for the opening of the new flagship Raley’s, which opened Wednesday on Freeport Boulevard.

“It’s not your traditional opening — it’s not a grand opening,” said Kevin Buffalino, Raley’s public relations manager. The West Sacramento-based supermarket chain plans a traditional celebration and ribbon cutting when the danger of the virus has passed, he said.

Signs of the pandemic were evident throughout the 55,000 square-foot store: a line formed inside for the toilet paper aisle, some essential items were limited to one or two items per cart, floor markings and other signs encouraged social distancing, and plastic shields separated the customers from staff at checkout. The store’s many self-serve options are also temporarily closed.

The first customer in the store was Sacramento City Councilman Steve Hansen, who arrived just before the doors opened at 6 a.m. and paid a visit to the paper products aisle.

Customer Corina Burdine said she arrived at 5:45 a.m. to get cleaning supplies and wipes.

“The line was really long when I got here. But it moved really quickly. They did a great job in here getting everything lined up and organized,” she said.

The old store, just a block south, will remain open until Saturday with all items in the store discounted starting Wednesday. Other stores in the new shopping plaza are yet to open.

This story was originally published April 15, 2020 at 12:23 PM.