Is the Solar Eclipse a Bright Opportunity for Retail?

Wegmans announced plans to close 48 of its 111 stores for 30 minutes during the total solar eclipse on April 8 so its employees can witness the celestial phenomenon. Other stores are looking at the event as a sales opportunity.

Wegmans’ stores in upstate New York and Erie, Pennsylvania, situated within or close to the path of the eclipse, will close from 3 to 3:30 p.m. All services at the locations, including pharmacy and Meals2Go pickup, will be unavailable.

“The opportunity to experience a total solar eclipse comes once in a lifetime, and we don’t want our employees to miss out,” Patrick Bourcy, Wegmans’ regional manager, said in a statement. “We appreciate all that our employees do to help our customers prepare for and enjoy events like this, and in return, we welcome the opportunity to make this a celebratory and memorable occasion for them.”

On Monday, April 8, the moon’s shadow will sweep across the U.S., allowing millions to view a total solar eclipse for the first time since 2017. According to NASA, the differences in the path of totality and timing could make the total eclipse even more brilliant, exciting, and accessible than in 2017. The next solar eclipse also won’t happen until 2044.

From a sales perspective, many websites, including Amazon.com, are selling solar viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers. Warby Parker and Natural Grocers will be handing out free eclipse glasses.

Stores alongside the path of totality — a 115-mile-wide track where the moon will completely block the sun for up to 4 minutes and 28 seconds — are expected to see a surge in traffic from eclipse seekers that will offer a major sales opportunity.

The path will extend from Texas to Maine, reaching major cities like Buffalo, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Austin, and Dallas. Hotels and airlines are luring visitors looking to see the total eclipse with special packages, and local bars and restaurants in cities along the route are staging watch parties.

The hype around the infrequent spectacle also poses risks as retailers potentially face blame for shortages of basic supplies. Four states — Ohio, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Texas — have urged residents to stock up on groceries and gas and to fill medical prescriptions in the days leading up to the eclipse, as traffic is expected to overwhelm local roads.

In Texas, Kerr County Judge Kelly issued a disaster declaration for the weekend before the eclipse, warning residents that a surge in out-of-towners could “cause extreme traffic congestion on our roadways, place an enormous strain on our first responders and hospital systems, drain our food and fuel supplies and strain our city and county infrastructure to, quite possibly, overcapacity.”