If you have gone out grocery shopping recently, you likely saw some empty shelves and large crowds.
The Asian Market in Reno, on the other hand, is almost fully stocked. Store owner Ellen Woo was able to keep a good stock of supplies and says she is seeing a lot of customers who have never been in an Asian Market.
"I do have some new customers every day, and then we have some customers that come almost every week," said Woo.
The full shelves over at the Asian market are a stark contrast to what many shoppers are seeing at bigger grocery stores like Costco with empty shelves. Outside of Costco, there are signs of what is in stock and what they are out of like rice, beans and of course, toilet paper. The shopping situation is similar over at places like Walmart, where families are on the hunt for essential supplies.
“Trying to stock up! Just like everybody else, you know, trying to buy toilet paper, formula for my grandson, just like everyone else is doing," said Hiedi Olivera outside of Walmart.
For Reno residents like Reza Iskandar and his grandmother Euis, they are trying to see the silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic.
"We need to see the positives in all this. For example (with) the coronavirus, people wash their hands more often; they spend more time with the family at home. That's what we've just been doing to stay positive and you know make the best of it.” said Iskandar.
“You make the best from the worst," said Eui.
By making these little outings to small grocery stores, they say they both help small local businesses, and don't take more than they need leaving supplies for others.
"We not making a panic run, we are just making a regular grocery run at this point in time. We were just like that, don’t make a panic for the people."
Supply shortages are also due to I-80 being closed on and off over the weekend. Trader Joe's in Reno opened its doors a few hours late after getting a shipment in that had to go the long way through Southern Nevada.
