# Grocery stores are changing and its making shopping much more difficult for disabled and elderly. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 8, 2015, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138 "2015-04-08T16:51:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/41 "2015-04-08T23:15:58Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Think of the crossbar on a letter H. Thank you. I should have thought of that. Short and simple. I was talking with my wife and she reminded me the Kroger near our old house didn’t have a center aisle. It wasn’t as deep a store. The aisles were maybe 60 or so feet long. It’s been years since we shopped there. We rarely go to that part of town since we moved. This store we use now is much bigger. I wasn’t exaggerating about those 100 ft long aisles. They seem to extend forever. That’s probably why it had a center aisle. They had the room. Now they’ve decided more shelf space matters. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/42 "2015-04-09T00:38:42Z")
The only supermarket that I can think of that has center aisles is a Whole Foods a ways out. Come to the city, where the supermarkets are tiny! ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/43 "2015-04-09T01:12:35Z")
I’m happy as long as they don’t stick those cardboard shelves filled with promotional or sale merchandise in the aisle, thus reducing the aisle width to 1.25 carts. The elderly and disabled have a few options. They can get assistance with shopping, they can use the motorized carts, or both. I’m not without sympathy, but there are other options. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/44 "2015-04-09T01:13:37Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > The only supermarket that I can think of that has center aisles is a Whole Foods a ways out. > > Come to the city, where the supermarkets are tiny! I was in a supermarket the other day that had escalators. I’m such a rube that I had to watch a cart go up the cart escalator! ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/45 "2015-04-09T01:54:18Z")
**aceplace** , the description of your Kroger store leads me to believe that you live in a suburb and the store is less than ten years old. Around here, the only ones with a center aisle are in the fancy pants suburbs. The stores in the city and towns further out tend to have the long aisles. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/46 "2015-04-09T02:04:20Z")
I am handicapped and if I met a couple of posters – well,you’d better watch your toes,'cause I’ll run them over with my electric wheelchair! Wal~Mart will ship bulkier items (cat litter/toilet paper) free,if you buy $35.00 of stuff… Very easy to do. As I must ride a bus,there is a limit of how many bags I may carry. ---
**Author:** ![Lorene89095](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/47 "2015-04-09T02:07:52Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > I’m happy as long as they don’t stick those cardboard shelves filled with promotional or sale merchandise in the aisle, thus reducing the aisle width to 1.25 carts. > > The elderly and disabled have a few options. They can get assistance with shopping, they can use the motorized carts, or both. > > I’m not without sympathy, but there are other options. Let me whack your knees with a hammer a few times,so you can see for yourself how wonderful those “options” are. I’m living “that” life. It ain’t fun.:mad: ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/48 "2015-04-09T02:40:21Z")
What a disheartening thread. Jesus. Have some compassion. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/49 "2015-04-09T05:32:14Z")
My regular Jewel supermarket doesn’t have the cross-aisle openings. Another that I sometimes stop at if it’s on my route (just for one or 2 items) is larger and does have openings between some aisles. I also occasionally stop at 2 Mariano’s, but I’m not sure if either has any aisles with openings. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/50 "2015-04-09T06:08:29Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I’ve recently seen two my of my local Kroger stores reorganize their aisles. Traditionally there’s always been a center aisle that runs horizontally across the width of the store. You walk down the center aisle, and turn right or left to get things. Return to the center and repeat. It saves needlessly having to walk the entire length of the aisle. It also makes it possible to read the Stock signs (that identify what is on the aisle) at each end. Standing in the center aisle, those signs to your right and left are visible. > > Well two of my local Kroger stores have eliminated that center aisle. ☹ Forcing people to walk back and forth the entire length of the store. Even worse, you can’t even see the stock sign at the far end. Theres a sign on each end identifying whats on that end. But, since it can’t be read from 100 feet away, that means walking down that aisle. > > I saw a guy in a wheelchair yesterday struggling to shop. He was absolutely exhausted zig zagging up and down those 100 ft long aisles. I parked my basket and spent 15 minutes helping him. It even tired me a little doing all that walking (twice). For his shopping and then my own. > > I can’t imagine why they are harming people like this. Its well known that our society is aging rapidly. We’ll soon have many more seniors than youngsters. Not to mention the disabled, people with heart conditions, and people that are obese. > > Would it do any good at all to speak with the store manager? The aisle is already gone. Filled with shelving. I endorse this pitting … er, this MPSIMS’ing. And I speak as one who for a number of years fit into the “disabled” category due to poor eyesight. I have never understood why the signs listing what is in each aisle have to be so damned small! Center aisles don’t entirely eliminate the problem if your visual impairment is extreme, but they at least help. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/51 "2015-04-09T11:39:40Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#): > > Let me whack your knees with a hammer a few times,so you can see for yourself how wonderful those “options” are. I’m living “that” life. It ain’t fun.:mad: I get it. I need a new knee myself, and have chronic knee pain because of it. (I also have chronic back pain.) ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/52 "2015-04-09T11:44:16Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > And I think online grocery shopping could really take off for this reason. I use online shopping (available at two local stores\*) for heavy items. It is wonderful to have someone else drag all the stuff up the stairs to my apartment. My knee and back both enjoy not dragging 14 pounds of kitty litter (\* 2 or 3) up the stairs, not to mention laundry soap, cat food, soda… \*Roche Brothers and Peapod by Stop and Shop. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/53 "2015-04-09T11:48:45Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > What do they do in places they don’t have scooter carts? Oh, right, they get family to help them. Too bad she doesn’t have any children to get out and shop once a week for her. I’m just sayin’. Still, I guess it’s Kroger’s problem after all. What a shitty thing to say. Because it’s the elderly or disabled’s fault if they don’t have family members who can or will help them. Why don’t we get rid of wheelchairs? They can always have family carry them around. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/54 "2015-04-09T13:53:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > What a shitty thing to say. Because it’s the elderly or disabled’s fault if they don’t have family members who can or will help them. > > Why don’t we get rid of wheelchairs? They can always have family carry them around. Yeah, but we know the OP’s mom has family. You know, once when I went to visit my mother I found her outside in the snow wearing sneakers of all things while she split wood for kindling. I said “Mom, PPE notwithstanding, I hate to see you out here splitting wood like this, if you set the alarm earlier you could have had it done before I got here.” The difference is, I was joking and we both had a good laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/55 "2015-04-09T14:29:32Z")
[Here](http://www.wegmans.com/images/storeDirectory/store44.gif) is a grocery layout of a Wegmans. It’s a pretty big store (145,000 sqft). They have the across the middle aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/56 "2015-04-09T15:10:27Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I used to shop at a [relatively small supermarket](https://gelsons.com/Store-Locations/valley%20village/noho) in an upscale neighborhood. One day, they reorganized their store and removed the center aisle. When I talked to the manager, he said they had a choice – reduce the variety and quantity of products offered, or remove the center aisle to make more shelf space. Enlarging the store ([Gelson’s in Studio City, CA](https://www.google.com/maps/@34.156734,-118.396478,3a,75y,90h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sMf4y9PIryY4ZTTDbn5WYKQ!2e0!6m1!1e1)) was not possible. > > So it wasn’t out of ignorance or lack of concern for older shoppers; it was a compromise. I don’t know what happened in the long run, but the store is still there. But it’s clearly a lie. They had a space with the aisle and shelving that had space for X number of things. They wanted MORE things so they took the aisle away. It is not as if they would have had to take stuff away (that was already there) _unless_ they mived the aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/57 "2015-04-09T16:27:31Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > But it’s clearly a lie. They had a space with the aisle and shelving that had space for X number of things. They wanted MORE things so they took the aisle away. It is not as if they would have had to take stuff away (that was already there) _unless_ they mived the aisle. That makes all the difference in the world! Except it doesn’t; it’s a meaningless nitpick. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/58 "2015-04-09T16:28:41Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > That makes all the difference in the world! Except it doesn’t; it’s a meaningless nitpick. > > Regards, > Shodan We’re in the perfect forum for it. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/59 "2015-04-09T16:45:21Z")
I don’t like the center aisle. Too much cross-traffic to worry about. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138/60 "2015-04-09T16:52:26Z")
I actively avoid the one grocery store chain in my area that does the center aisle thing. I find it very disorienting and I keep forgetting where I’ve been, so my shopping trip takes longer…Which is exactly why they do center aisles. They’re not doing center aisles to make things quicker or easier, they do them to keep you in the store longer when you can’t recall if you’ve been down 3b when you’re coming back up 4a. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grocery-stores-are-changing-and-its-making-shopping-much-more-difficult-for-disabled-and-elderly/717138.md?page=4)