SoHo Trader Joe's Closes After Coronavirus Case Among Staff

SOHO, MANHATTAN — The SoHo Trader Joe's has temporarily closed down after a staff member tested positive for the new coronavirus, just days after the nearby Union Square location was shuttered for a COVID-19 case.

The 233 Spring St. location is now one of five Trader Joe's locations in the country, two in New York City, that closed this week for either a crew member that tested positive for COVID-19 or is receiving treatment for a suspected case, the store said.

The Union Square location on East 14th Street and the SoHo outpost, which was added to the list Wednesday, both had crew members that tested positive for the virus, the store said.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we have temporarily closed the store for thorough cleaning and sanitization," Trader Joe's said in an announcement on their website.

The staff member from the SoHo location was last in the store on March 17. The staff member from the Union Square Trader Joe's, which is about a mile away from the Spring Street outpost, was last in the store on Sunday, the company said.

Both locations were still closed as of Wednesday and a Trader Joe's spokesperson did not respond to questions about when they would reopen. The next closest Trader Joe's in Lower Manhattan is in the East Village at 436 East 14th St.

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Trader Joe's advised customers who visited the store over the 14-day period ending on March 22nd, and have health-related concerns, to contact the New York State Department of Health Novel Coronavirus Hotline at (888) 364-3065.

The three other stores closed because of possible employee cases were in Long Island, Maryland and New Jersey.

The closure comes as New Yorkers flock to many of the city's grocery stores to buy up supplies as they follow Gov. Andrew Cuomo's stay-at-home order. Grocery stores are one of several essential services that Cuomo allowed to stay open as all other businesses are asked to work from home or shut down.

Nearly 18,000 New York City residents had the coronavirus as of Wednesday, according to Cuomo.

Trader Joe's staff said they will continue to pay crew members at closed locations even during the temporary closures. They did not immediately respond to a request for more information about when the store will reopen.

"We are connecting with all Crew Members at the respective locations, encouraging anyone who may have been in contact to follow CDC-recommended self-monitoring guidelines and to call their healthcare providers right away if they develop any symptoms," the store said.

"...As soon as the store has been fully cleaned and restocked, we plan to reopen. As we continue to respond to this rapidly evolving situation, our focus remains on doing whatever is necessary to safeguard the health and safety of our Crew Members and customers and best support our communities.