New store hours effective Sunday, March 22:

Sunday, 9 am–6 pm: Business as usual

Monday–Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm: Business as usual

Monday–Saturday, 8 am – 9 am: Open to vulnerable populations (Over 70, disabilities, expectant mothers, other high-risk members of our community)

Dear Fiesta community,

Since about March 10, when the pandemic first began to dominate our conversation, prey on our consciousness, and dictate our behaviour, we’ve been on the offensive.

People have shared their appreciation, and it put some extra fuel in our tank. We’re now running on fumes.

• Attrition is taking its toll. We’re losing staff.
• In addition to constant wiping, comprehensive cleaning takes 3 hours after store closing. Managers haven’t been getting home until midnight. It had to end at some point.
• Lowered immune systems make people more susceptible to illness.

Now we’re thinking long term. We want to be able to see you through this pandemic.

We’re committed to serving vulnerable populations but we’ve changed their dedicated hours to 8 am – 9 am.

Regular business hours will follow the dedicated vulnerable populations hours and begin at 9 am and end at 6 pm until further notice.

We’ve been sanitizing and restocking relentlessly. We’ll use the extra time to do more, better. But also to squeeze in enough rest to start treating this as a marathon instead of a sprint. Frankly, leaving the store at a reasonable hour here and there should help us emotionally.

The roads are quiet. People are coming in waves. We’re not suffering from supply shortages, and we don’t expect to. Much of the strain is rooted in fear-based hoarding. Hopefully, you can use your ‘working from home’ status to come at times you don’t typically shop.

Thank you very much for all the kind words you’ve shared on Google, Facebook, and Twitter.

It means a lot. Three weeks ago, we couldn’t have imagined ourselves as frontline/essential services. We’re just a neighbourhood grocery store and garden centre. But neighbours pitch in. So that’s what we’re doing.

Please stay tuned for further announcements. We meet daily to move new strategies forward and test new tactics. We’ll share any decisions that will affect you here and through our social channels.

Thanks for your understanding, patronage, and support.

See you in the aisles.