With one-to-two feet of snow in the forecast, area grocers saw a run on staples like milk, bread, eggs and more Saturday.

“It started about two days ago, as soon as everyone heard the forecast and felt that it had credibility,” Joe Fasula, co-owner of Gerrity’s Supermarkets, said. “Thursday in some stores, we did double what we did last year on the same day.”

The egg section appears more empty than usual at Walmart in Wilkes-Barre Twp. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)The egg section appears more empty than usual at Walmart in Wilkes-Barre Twp. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
A lone case of water bottles sits in an aisle at Walmart in Wilkes-Barre Twp. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)A lone case of water bottles sits in an aisle at Walmart in Wilkes-Barre Twp. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The egg section appears more empty than usual at Walmart in Wilkes-Barre Twp. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)The egg section appears more empty than usual at Walmart in Wilkes-Barre Twp. on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Jim Lehman of Hanover Twp. purchases rock salt in preparation for Sunday's storm at Main Hardware on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Jim Lehman of Hanover Twp. purchases rock salt in preparation for Sunday’s storm at Main Hardware on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Customers purchase rock salt from Main Hardware in preparation for Sunday's storm on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)Customers purchase rock salt from Main Hardware in preparation for Sunday’s storm on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

 

That forecast has remained pretty consistent since late in the week, with meteorologists predicting 12-18 inches of snow beginning at about 4 a.m. Sunday, Dan Pydynowski, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist said.

Fasula co-owns nine supermarkets and six Ace Hardware stores across Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.

The breadth of this weekend’s storm means people are going beyond simply buying staples and are purchasing full orders to get them through several days.

“Quick, easy meals for kids, frozen pizzas, people will buy macaroni and cheese, he said. “Everything sells.”

Fasula said in regard to staffing, it was “all hands on deck.”

“All of our executive management is out in the stores working. We ask as many people as we can to come in,” he said. “When you do that much business, they’re not enough people and not enough cash registers that you could flex enough to handle the amount of business.”

But, people who have to wait in line are understanding of a somewhat unique situation, he said.

So, they wait patiently, often chatting with other customers about the storm.

There’s also been a run on wine, Fasula said, as there has been on every snow day since the store began selling it about seven years ago.

He points out that the hardware stores were also doing well this week as people headed out to purchase a shovel, a part for their snowblower, ice melt, snow scrapers and other items.

Fasula is planning to close his supermarkets at noon on Sunday.

He said the hardware stores are expected to remain open a bit later in case someone needs a part, a snow shovel or some other item in a snow-related emergency.

Fasula said the primary focus of the business is both serving customers and keeping employees safe.

“It’s not an exact science, but we do try to weigh out both priorities,” he said.

Eating your way through a storm

Steph Mazza, of Luzerne, purchased a full order at Gerrity’s in Wyoming.

Mazza has three children, 16, six and four, and said they eat their way through most snow days.

“I guess I’m ready,” she said, laughing.  “I did get two gallons of milk.”

Mazza said the family expected to spend most of Sunday cuddling on the couch and watching television.

But, she was also hoping to spend some time at her boyfriend’s house, who lives near a wooded area.

“There’s a trail, and we can take a walk,” she said. “There’s a frozen pond and everything.”

She noted that the supermarket was “super-busy” with shoppers seemingly buying a variety of items.

Making travel adjustments

Churches have also made adjustments in their schedules to ensure the safety of those attending.

The Diocese of Scranton, for example, encouraged parishioners to attend Saturday night Mass and to consider live-streaming a service if they couldn’t safely travel.

Rescue and Restore Church in Olyphant rescheduled their Sunday service for Saturday evening because of the predicted.

Restored Church in Wilkes-Barre also shifted its Sunday service to Saturday evening.

Other churches also either cancelled their service, rescheduled or took to social media to encourage alternate Sunday activities.

Pastor Bryan Dodson at Faith Baptist Church announced the cancellation of Sunday service, encouraging people to spend time with family, read the Bible and make a list of people that might need prayer.

Forecasters say staying off the roadways and sticking close to home is a good idea.

“Patience can save lives. Waiting out the storm at home is far safer than attempting to travel through icy conditions that may not improve for days,” Pydynowski said.