United Supermarkets Reaches Milestone With its First 24-Hour Store

United Supermarkets reached another milestone on Sunday, June 3, when its Market Street location at 50th and Indiana here become a 24-hour store. It marked the first time in the company’s 96-year history that it has operated a round-the-clock location. The move was made in an effort to help meet a community need and offer options to guests that are not currently available, according to Sidney Hopper, chief operating officer for United Supermarkets. “We have a significant number of people in the Lubbock community who work late or overnight – law enforcement, healthcare and some large manufacturing companies with night shifts,” Hopper said. “We believe this is an underserved population in terms of shopping options, particularly when it comes to pharmacy.” Hopper noted there are only two other pharmacies offering overnight prescription services in a city of more than 225,000 people. “Given the size and importance of our medical community, we felt this was a great opportunity for us to provide a much-needed service, especially for folks leaving an emergency room and needing to have a prescription filled immediately, or for other family needs,” he explained. The pharmacy at the 50th and Indiana location is fully staffed overnight, as are many other store departments. Food service areas – including deli and bakery – maintain current operational hours, although several self-service options are available all night long. The store’s United Express fuel kiosk also remains operational, allowing for payment at the pump at all times, but is not manned overnight. “Providing a safe environment, as always, is of the highest priority for us,” Hopper noted. “So we’ve spent lots of time putting systems in place to ensure a safe experience for our guests and team members.” That includes, Hopper said, adding additional security personnel as well as offering carryout service and accompanying guests to their cars at all times. And, while this is the company’s first 24/7 venture, it may not be the last. “We will explore opportunities in our other markets based on the success of this first one,” Hopper said.