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GR MITCHELL’S COVID-19 RESPONSE

May 8, 2020 @ 11:00 PM (Edit to original post)

As of Monday, May 11 our building materials counter and contractor entrance will resume opening at 6:30 am. Retail store entrance will remain closed until 7 am (M-S).

April 26, 2020 @ 3:00 PM (Edit to original post)

Starting tomorrow, Monday, April 27 GR Mitchell will be open until 5 PM Monday through Saturday. Hours will be as follows until further notice:

Sunday: 10 am – 3 pm (normal hours)

Monday through Saturday: 7 am – 5 pm

We ask that you help our True Value hardware store accommodate those who are immune-compromised or senior by reserving Thursdays from 7 am to 8 am as their safe-shopping period.

We also ask that when physically visiting us that you help in our efforts to comply with state physical distancing guidelines as well as wearing a mask upon entry. Our retail checkout lane has marking on the floor to help make this easy once you’re ready to pay and plexi-dividers will help to increase safety when engaging with our staff at the cash register.
March 26, 2020 @ 10:00 AM (Edit to original post)

We’d like to thank the community for your understanding as we do our best to manage business during this unprecedented situation. Due to demand, we’re taking additional measures so that we can be more accessible to those who need hardware and lumber without compromising safety, including making the necessary arrangements for us to be open during the weekend.

Until further notice our hours of operation are 7 am – 3 pm Monday through Saturday, and 10 am – 3 pm on Sunday.
Our staff continues to implement new cleaning protocols in every effort to keep you safe while visiting our physical location. While at our True Value hardware store or within our building materials warehouse we ask that you follow CDC guidelines to the best of your ability, including; practicing social distancing (6 ft is recommended), increase the frequency of hand washing, try not to touch your face, stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or if you’ve been exposed to a verified case of COVID-19, etc.

Calling your orders ahead of time, particularly if you have a lengthy list or large building material orders, is appreciated but not required.

Lastly, please be patient with our staff as they do their best to assist you. A limited number of our employees are available and each of them is exhibiting strength and flexibility as a result of these ever-changing circumstances.

Please feel free to call or message us at any time with questions, comments, or concerns.
March 20, 2020 @ 3:00 PM (Edit to original post)
Effective immediately, GR Mitchell will be open Monday – Friday from 7 am to 3 pm.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause and we ask for your patience and understanding as we learn how to operate through a multitude of new requirements and safety precautions.

You may still visit our True Value hardware as well as our building materials counter during these new operating hours.

We’re here to help you and the larger community navigate through this unprecedented situation and will be here for you so that we can build a better future together.
March 20, 2020 @ 8:00 AM (Edit to original post)

You are likely aware that Governor Tom Wolf announced last night that non life sustaining business should discontinue operation. Based upon the Governor’s list, published here https://www.scribd.com/document/452416026/20200319-Life-Sustaining-Business, GR Mitchell will be permitted to be open, for the time being.

While we encourage you to stay home and heed the direction of local government and safety suggestions from the federal government and the CDC, you will be able to purchase you home repair materials at our Willow Street headquarters.

Please call ahead with a list of the items that you need so that we can gather them prior to your arrival. We can process payments over the phone (or add them to your account for our contractor customers) and bring orders to your vehicle, greatly reducing the amount of physical interaction necessary.

We ask that you be patient with our staff during this very stressful time. Our wholesale suppliers are not permitted to stay open at this time, which may lead to out of stock scenarios on common items. We’ll make every effort to find the items that you need from the available inventory.

We’ll continue to provide updates as further information emerges and we’ll continue to be open to support our community as long as it can be done safely.

Thank you for your understanding.
March 17, 2020 @ 5:00 PM (Edit to original post)
As we continue to be agile in our response to the spread of COVID-19, we recognize that additional minor changes can make a big impact in our ability to keep our staff, customers, and the overall community safer.

Reducing business hours slightly will provide us with the time to take precautions that can make a big impact without causing much negative impact to the way we are able to support hardware and building material customers. Effective next week, starting March 22, we will be operating under the adjusted schedule:
  • Sunday; 10 am – 3 pm
  • Mon – Fri; 6:30 am – 5 pm
  • Saturday; 7 am – 3 pm
This adjustment to business hours will allow us to increase sanitizing efforts, particularly for high-touch surfaces in our store and building materials counter; will provide us extra time to pull and stage building material orders in advance of their necessary pick-up time allowing us to reduce face-to-face interactions; provide additional time for us to prepare contingency plans as our customers’ receipt processes change; and will also provide additional time for us to restock retail shelves.

AS A REMINDER: We continue to encourage you to e-mail or call ahead of your visit to GR Mitchell, particularly if you know what items you intend to purchase. We can prepare your purchase in advance of your arrival and in some cases process payment over the phone, further reducing interpersonal interactions and increasing our social distancing efforts.

We truly thank you for your patience and we appreciate your understanding while we implement these temporary changes
March 17, 2020 @ 8:00 AM (Edit to original post)

Governor Tom Wolf’s office has provided further clarity on the types of businesses that should remain open at this time.
Essential services and sectors include but are not limited to food processing, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, feed mills, construction, trash collection, grocery and household goods (including convenience stores), home repair/hardware and auto repair, pharmacy and other medical facilities, biomedical and healthcare, post offices and shipping outlets, insurance, banks, gas stations, laundromats, veterinary clinics and pet stores, warehousing, storage, and distribution, public transportation, and hotel and commercial lodging. Link to full article.
While we are here to provide support to our community through the products we offer, we continue to ask you to do as much communication as possible through e-mail and phone, rather than in-person. If you must visit us, please join in our efforts to heed advice given by the CDC and WHO regarding social distancing, proper hand washing, and to isolate yourself if you feel sick OR if you have been around someone who is exhibiting symptoms.
March 16, 2020 @ 5:00 PM (Edit to original post)

Based upon many inquiries post Governor Tom Wolf’s press meeting today, we feel compelled to update both retail and contractor customers regarding the status of GR Mitchell’s operation.

Yes, we are still open for business.

We spent a great deal of time trying to determine our best course of action. Definitions of non-essential as outlined by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development have been a particular area of focus. Due to the nature of the products which are available in our retail environment (those used to stop plumbing, electrical, and other household emergencies) and the nature of our building material supply operation, we will continue to operate as closely to normal as possible for the time being.

It’s vital to note, however, that we are operating under heightened safety protocols, both in the retail hardware store and during product deliveries/pick-ups. You can find this information listed below from our earlier update.

If you can call or e-mail us your supply order instead of physically visiting any of our locations, we strongly encourage you to do so.

If you are aware of what you need from our hardware store selection, please call or email in advance of your arrival so that we can collect your items and possibly even take payment over the phone.

We will send additional updates as this situation progresses.



March 16, 2020 @ 1:06 PM

Whether you’re one of our pro customers or a homeowner that frequent’s our True Value hardware store, it’s certain that you’ve begun to feel the impacts of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

We recognize that you may still need materials for your new builds and remodels. We also realize that while you anticipate the potential of spending more time than normal at your home that you may be visiting us to gather the necessary supplies for maintenance of your property or maybe even to kick-off a new project. But, while we are open for business, we ask that you help in our efforts to safeguard the larger community.

As we plan to maintain a high level of service to all of our customers, our staff is practicing the following measures, as advised by the CDC, in an attempt to keep our business a safer environment for all those who visit:
  • Frequent handwashing
  • Recurrent cleaning of frequently touched surfaces such as counters, credit card terminals, door handles, etc
  • Cover sneezing and coughing with a tissue (then throw the tissue in the trash) or into your elbow
  • Avoid touching of the face
  • Stay home if you are feeling sick
We would ask that you join us in attempts to safeguard yourself, other customers, our staff, and the larger community. While you’re a guest at GR Mitchell, we also advise that you follow CDC guidance regarding social distancing the best that you’re able.

Here are some of our other ideas to improve the safety of our operations:

For Our Retail Customers

If you know what items you need in advance of your visit, we encourage you to call 717-464-2999 or email info@grmitchell.com and communicate those needs. We can gather the items that you’d like to purchase, have them ready for you upon your arrival, and reduce the amount of close interactions that need to take place. If payment can be processed over the phone in advance of your trip, we can even provide curbside pick-up for your convenience.

For Our Pro Customers

Our building materials counter will be staffed and ready to answer your questions and to place orders, but we ask that you please consider email and phone as an alternative to visiting us in person when possible. If you do utilize our services at the building materials counter, we ask that you follow CDC guidance regarding social distancing as best as you’re able while at GR Mitchell.

As our staff continues to make deliveries, we feel that it is in the best interest of all involved that we not enter into any homes or buildings. Rather, we will be making all deliveries to the outside of the property, the only exception being that we will load materials into a garage at your request.

For the time being you will not be required to sign for the receipt of building materials, rather we will use photos as proof of delivery and may ask your name to further verify, as well.

Additionally, we’ve decided to prohibit outside guests from visiting the GR Mitchell back office. If you have the need to discuss anything with GR Mitchell back office staff (including outside sales, , accounting, etc), please consider email, phone, and video-calling/screensharing (such as skype, google meetups, zoom conferencing, facetime, etc) for your communication needs. While this is a temporary measure, it is unclear as to when we’ll be welcoming vendors and other visitors into Willow Street office once again.

We understand that this could vary from the way that you normally interact with our staff, but our hope is that this provisional change exists with minimal interruptions to how we typically conduct business.

The Big Picture

GR Mitchell takes not only the success of your business and the maintenance of your home seriously, but your safety as well. We hope that you understand these measures as the situation concerning COVID-19 changes. We’ll continue to be proactive and timely with any future updates.