Grocery stores see increase in customers as winter weather rolls in

Published 3:33 pm Sunday, February 14, 2021

The threat of inclement weather always sends a rush of customers to the grocery store.

Whether it’s to stock up on items that one would need if the power goes out or for comfort food to enjoy while hunkered down, it’s inevitable that parking lots will be full and lines long.

With the imminent winter weather forecast for Vicksburg Sunday evening into Monday, local grocery stores noticed a significant increase in customers Sunday.

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James Smith, the meat department clerk at Morgan’s Supermarket on Halls Ferry Road, said he noticed a bit more activity than usual.

“It’s been pretty busy and consistent since they are saying it’s going to freeze and that it is Valentine’s Day,” Smith said.

As in other winter storms, Smith said it was milk, bread and meat that were among the most popular items flying off shelves.

At Corner Market, on Indiana Avenue, store director Todd Kurtz said they have been busy all weekend.

“It’s been crazy busy and this is the fourth day of it,” Kurtz said. “They are buying everything including the milk and the bread and the eggs. In fact, we were out of milk and bread this morning (Sunday) but we received another truck.”

Kurtz said the larger than normal crowd at his store is always expected when there is a “weather event.”

“They come in and buy real heavy and you would think in the last four days they would have bought enough to last them two weeks,” he laughed.

Kurtz said Corner Market will be closing at 5:30 p.m. Sunday and will reopen Monday afternoon “at the earliest.”

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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