OAKLAND — A West Oakland grocery store will close for at least three days after a spokesman said other employees may have been exposed to COVID-19 after an employee’s positive test Sunday.
In a statement shared to social media, Community Foods Market manager Brahm Ahmadi said the store would be closed from 9 a.m. Monday for deep-cleaning and sanitizing while its management team reviewed store-safety procedures and conferred with Alameda County public health officials.
“As a community anchor and essential service, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to protect each other and further reduce the spread of COVID-19. We are taking this proactive step out of concern for the health and safety of our staff and customers,” Ahmadi said in part.
“We will determine which additional steps, if any, are necessary to create the safest shopping experience possible. The health and safety of our staff, customers, and community is our highest priority.”
Ahmadi said the store expects to provide an update on its plans by 6 p.m. Wednesday. No information was immediately available Sunday on whether all of the store’s employees will undergo COVID-19 testing.
The 14,000-square-foot store in the 3100 block of San Pablo Avenue at Myrtle Street broke ground after extensive planning in early 2018 and opened its doors in June 2019, employing at least four dozen people with plans to add a dozen more.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
