These National Stores Require Customers to Wear Face Masks

Customers visiting Albertsons Companies, one of the largest drug store and food market chains in the country, are required to wear masks or other face coverings for their own protection and that of store employees. The company has stores across 34 states, as well as Washington, D.C., including Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Star Market, and Pavilions.

ALDI posted a message on its corporate website on July 17 that face coverings will be required for everyone entering the supermarket’s stores starting July 27. People who don’t want to wear masks or are unable due to a medical condition can shop online or use the curbside grocery pickup service.

Masks or other face coverings are mandatory for anyone who is inside an American Eagle or Aerie store. Masks will be given to customers who don’t have them. Hand sanitizers are provided as well.

All customers, as well as employees, are required to wear face coverings in all Apple stores. People who don’t bring masks will be given them. Customers will also have their temperature checked before entering the stores.

AT&T requires that all customers, visitors, and employees wear a mask in their stores, which let a limited number of people inside in order to maintain social distancing. The telecommunications company will provide masks to people who don’t bring their own. Curbside and door-step services are also available in some stores.

Bed Bath & Beyond and its subsidiaries, including Christmas Tree Shops, Harmon Face Values and Cost Plus World Market, require that all customers wear face coverings when shopping in their stores. People who can’t tolerate a mask due to a health condition are an exception. Contactless curbside pickup or home delivery is also available from all stores.

Best Buy started requiring face coverings for customers on July 15, a day after it posted the announcement of its new policy online. Small children and people who are unable to wear a face covering for medical reasons can enter the store without a mask.

Any person entering a BJ’s store is required to have a mask or face covering that covers both the mouth and the nose on at all times. The only exception is for children under 2 years old. People who don’t or can’t wear face masks can shop online. BJ’s has been limiting the number of customers inside its stores to allow for proper social distancing since April 4.

Buy Buy Baby, owned by Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., requires that all customers wear face coverings when shopping in their stores, beginning July 24. People who can’t tolerate a mask because of a health condition are an exception. Contactless curbside pickup or home delivery is available in all stores.

Costco was one of the first national stores to require customers to wear face masks. Members and guests have been mandated to cover their mouths and noses with masks or other types of face covering since May 4, 2020. Children under the age of 2 and people who cannot wear a mask due to health complications are an exception.

CVS employees have had to wear masks ever since stores in various states were allowed to reopen in May. Though some stores already required that customers wear masks as well due to state and local orders, CVS is now extending the rule to all customers.

Until July 20, the Dollar Tree and Family Dollar required all customers to wear masks when shopping in their stores. The big retailers, both owned by Dollar Tree Inc., don’t require masks or face coverings anymore, but they do “request” that customers wear them. Face coverings are mandated where required by state or local ordinance.

The clothing store chain requires that all customers and employees wear face masks. Additionally, the company is limiting the number of people in stores to no more than five at a time, temporarily closing fitting rooms, and not accepting cash.

Starting July 27, all customers entering GameStop stores in the U.S. will be required to wear masks. Those who cannot or have “concerns” about wearing a face covering have to use the store’s online platform for any purchases.

Starting Aug. 1, all Gap stores, as well as all stores the giant retailer owns — including Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Intermix and Janie and Jack — will require that customers wear masks. Small children and people with underlying conditions that prevent them from wearing masks are exempt. Single-use medical masks will be provided to people who need them.

Starting July 22, The Home Depot requires that all customers — except small children and people with medical conditions such as asthma that may inhibit breathing while wearing a mask — wear a face covering. Until that date, about 85% of the retailer’s stores already had such a mandate due to local and state regulations.

IKEA has required that people wear masks since it started reopening its stores in the United States. If necessary, each IKEA location will limit the number of customers inside a store in compliance with physical distancing guidelines. The children’s play area remains closed.

All customers as well as employees must wear masks when inside the store. The masks or face coverings must cover both the nose and mouth. Hand sanitizers are available at entrances and throughout every Jared store. Maintaining at least 6 feet from others is strongly encouraged.

Kay Jewelers, which is under the same ownership as Jared, requires that all employees and customers wear face coverings inside the stores, especially when maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet is difficult.

Kohl’s employees have been required to wear masks since stores started reopening. As of July 20, all customers are mandated to wear face coverings as well. The store updated its safety policy as about 70% of its locations are in places where state or local ordinances require people to wear masks. The mandate does not apply to people who can’t wear masks for medical reasons.

Kroger, the third largest retailer in the United States by revenue, will require as of July 22 that all customers in all locations wear masks. Kroger’s employees already have to wear masks while inside the store.

The home improvement retail giant has joined a growing number of national stores that require their customers to wear masks when inside their stores. Store associates have been required to wear masks since reopening started in May.

Macy’s employees have been required to wear masks since May when stores started to reopen in some states. As of July 22, that rule will apply to all customers as well. Visitors who don’t have a mask will be provided one. People who can’t wear masks due to a health condition are encouraged to shop online or to use the store’s contactless curbside pickup service.

The grocery giant with about 250 stores throughout the Midwest is requiring that customers visiting any Meijer store or Meijer Express station wear masks. People with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing masks are exempt.

Customers, as well as employees, have been required to wear either a mask, scarf, bandana or full-length face shield that covers both the nose and mouth since July 13. Single-use masks can be bought if customers didn’t bring them. Children, too, have to wear masks unless they are in their parents’ arms or seated in shopping carts.

Customers shopping in any Nordstrom store must wear a face covering. People who want to go to the retail store but don’t have a mask will be given one for free. Stores will also be limiting the number of customers inside a location in order to have enough space for physical distancing.

Office Depot and OfficeMax mandate that all customers wear face masks or another type of face covering while shopping in any of their 1,307 office supply stores throughout the country. Curbside pickup is available at most locations for people who prefer not to go inside.

People visiting the bakery cafes throughout the country have to wear masks at all times while inside, except when eating or drinking. Customers who don’t want to wear face coverings or cannot do so for any reason will be served via curbside pickup, delivery, or drive-thru.

Petco started requiring customers to wear face masks when inside their stores on July 20. Single-use gloves are available to anyone who wants to use them. Customers are also asked to stay at least 6 feet apart.

Customers and employees of the retail chain must wear face coverings or masks over their noses and mouths while shopping in PetSmart stores. People who don’t bring a mask will be provided with one. Customers who prefer not to go inside a store can use the curbside pickup service.

The supermarket chain required customers to wear face coverings as of July 21. Small children and people with health problems that prevent them from wearing masks are exempt from the mandate. They are, however, encouraged to use the store’s delivery or curbside pickup services.

The drugstore chain has mandated that as of July 21 customers in its nearly 2,500 locations throughout the country wear either a mask, a face covering, or a face shield. People who don’t have a mask will be provided with one for free.

About 65% of the membership-only warehouse retailer’s locations are in places with state or local mandates on face coverings. In order to avoid confusion about where masks are and are not required, Sam’s Club has decided to require all customers to wear a mask or another face covering, effective July 20.

The warehouse-style food chain with stores in northern California and the Pacific Northwest updated its safety policy in April, requiring customers as well as employees to wear face coverings when inside their stores. Single-use bags are provided to customers for free in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Customers have the option to bag their own groceries as well.

Customers have been required to wear face coverings in most Sprint locations since May 22.

Customers must wear a mask or face covering if they want to have a drink from any Starbucks across the country. People who don’t want to wear a mask will be served from the drive-thru or via curbside pickup or delivery.

T-Mobile, one of the largest wireless network carriers in the United States, requires masks or facial coverings for employees, customers, and visitors over the age of 2 at all times while inside the store. Curbside service is available if customers don’t want to go inside stores.

Effective Aug. 1, Target will join many other national retailers and require their customers to wear a mask or face covering when visiting their stores. Young children and people with certain medical conditions are exempt. Disposable masks will be provided to people who don’t bring their own.

Customers of this large retailer are required to wear a mask when inside stores. The mandate allows for two exceptions — young children and people with health complications, such as asthma, who cannot wear face coverings.

Customers are required to wear face masks when inside any Verizon location. Curbside pickup is available in some stores if people don’t want to or are unable to wear a face covering.

The second-largest pharmacy chain in the country now has COVID-19 testing sites in 49 states and Puerto Rico. Employees as well as customers have to wear face covers at all times inside the stores. Children under 2 years old and people with health conditions that inhibit breathing are exempt.

Walmart, the world’s largest retail company by revenue, now requires face coverings in line with CDC recommendations. A store employee will be stationed at every entrance to remind customers of the new mandate.

Whole Foods Market now requires all customers to wear face coverings while shopping in their stores. The supermarket chain provides face masks at the entrance of all stores for people who do not bring their own.

Like Kay Jewelers and Jared, Zales is owned by Signet Jewelers, the largest retailer of diamond jewelry in the world. Signet Jewelers has closed at least 150 of its locations — and plans to shutter another 150 by the end of 2020 — throughout North America due to the coronavirus pandemic. All stores that remain open require customers to wear masks.