Close to Home Grocery & Deli
110-5615 Teskey Way V2R0K5 Chilliwack, BC, Canada

Some interesting news to pass on with this post. First - Kudos to the kids who have been coming in to the store this week. They have been very good at following our revised protocols and been very respectful at practicing social distancing. Thanks to the parents who did a good job of coaching them! Our beef and chicken supply remains safe and intact. Prices have gone up a little but not as much as they had predicted. Sophie has been keeping the deli area full with lots of de...licious steaks, hamburgers, chicken and more. One of our regular customers is a Health and Safety inspector for a major chain and he was kind enough to offer advice and helpful information for us to navigate the 'New Normal' going forward so we can remain open. He did confirm that Work Safe BC will be charged with making sure all businesses have a plan in place that insure social distancing. It is our responsibility as owners to make sure it is enforced by employees and customers alike. We have reviewed this with our staff so please be understanding when they remind you of the protocols - they are just doing their job to make sure we can stay open. Even though the province is easing restrictions next week, businesses will have to enforce these protocols for the foreseeable future (probably months). Weekend hours for Victoria Day Weekend: Saturday 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. Sunday 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Monday 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Last, keep your fingers crossed - but we are hopefully having our full time/day time cashier back next week. If that does happen, it will free up a good deal of my time to get some of those empty shelves filled with some new products.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback I requested last week on our Social Distancing protocols. Gave us lots to consider over the weekend. Based on the community's input and on observing things over the weekend we are modifying our protocols as follows: For mother's with younger kids that cannot be left outside the store - please feel welcome to bring them into the store. We ask that they they be kept in your stroller if you have one, or close to you so that you can control th...e social distancing. We encourage you to come do your shopping in the morning if possible, as the store is less busy and it will make your shopping much easier. Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times to come into the store. Once again we ask that you keep your child with you. Kids 12 or older are welcome to come into the store but only one at a time. Please counsel your kids on the proper social distancing to follow when at the store. The rule of only one person per group or family in the store at at time will be continuing until such time as the Health department tells us we no longer have to limit the number of people in the store. This weekend was very bad in that regard as we had groups of two, three or even more coming in together. Scooped Ice cream will be available every day Until 5:00 P.M. (the reason for this is we have more people working during the day so we can have someone serve the ice cream). The available flavours are posted on the Chalkboard outside the front door so if one person is buying for a group outside. We are a little low on offerings this week until I can get more in on Thursday due to yesterday's mother day special. Slushies are available starting at Noon and right until closing. Lotto validations will continue to only be available in the morning. Lotto sales will happen all day long but we do reserve the right to temporarily halt lotto sales if the line up is too long. Lotto sales slow down the checkout process and when the line up is too long we want to speed things up. We have had some people get quit 'miffed' with the cashiers over this issue. Last, we have put in some new signs to direct the flow of traffic within the store to assist in proper social distancing. Please look for them when you enter the store. We thank everyone for their cooperation on these protocols. These decisions are not easy to make, but they are the ones we feel keep everyone safe. Please be kind to any staff members who are reminding customers of the protocols. They are just doing their job! See more

As posted earlier in the week - tomorrow from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. we will be having free ice cream for Kids and Moms.This is the store's Gifts to all those Great Mothers in our community who do so much for the kids. Unlike the last free ice cream event - the store will be open making social distancing a lot more difficult. So we are going to serve the ice cream from our loading door (at the side of the building). Alexis will be directing the traffic to make sure we still have social distancing - but at least this way the kids can still pick their own flavours. Hope to see lots of Moms tomorrow!!

We got in 20 - lb packages of instant yeast. $ 4.69 each. Limit one per customer. One Pound is a lot so maybe some would like to buy it and share with neighbors and friends. They are not on the shelf - ask the cashier when you come in.

There have been no updates lately because there really has been nothing new to report. For the most part the new normal has come in to play for the grocery business. Our orders are coming in at regular times, but there are shortages on some products at various times. Today's message is being sent to the fathers and kids of Promontory. Sunday is Mother's day, and in any normal year it should be a time to thank Mom's for all they do. This year it is even more important to recog...nize Mom for all the great things she does for the kids. However, with most stores closed it will be hard to get her something. So, on Sunday between 2:00 and 4:00 P.M. we will be offering Mom FREE ICE Cream. If she wants to bring the kids so they can have an outing together then the kids cones will be free as well. However, if she wants to come on her own to give herself a much deserved break - then she can do so. OR, if Dad wants to bring the kids down for free kids cone and give Mom a break - that can work too!! Let the Mom in your house decide what she wants! As we are open on Sundays again - keeping the social distancing will be a bit of a challenge. Alexis Camponi has graciously volunteered to help on that front again. I will post the social distancing guidelines on Saturday. See more