COVID spurs larger drive-through facilities at Hy-Vees in Oakdale, Eagan

Bob Shaw, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·1 min read

Nov. 29—Here's another surprising response to COVID — an increase in drive-through facilities at grocery stores.

Hy-Vee Supermarkets announced Friday that it is building four-lane Aisles Online facilities at stores in Oakdale, Eagan, Savage and New Hope.

Hy-Vee customers will be able to order groceries online, then pick them up at sites that resemble four-lane bank drive-throughs. Several other supermarket chains offer pickup services, but usually utilizing a single lane or designated parking spaces.

Company spokeswoman Tina Potthoff said that when the pandemic struck in March 2020, demand for online ordering grew. It's still climbing, she said, as COVID-19 continues to be a problem throughout the Midwest.

She said stores in New Hope and Savage have started construction of their four-lane additions. The feature is planned for stores in Oakdale and Eagan.

According to documents submitted to the city of Oakdale, Hy-Vee wants to build the Aisles Online facility to the southwest of the existing store, along Hallmark Avenue.

Iowa-based Hy-Vee operates 15 stores in the Twin Cities metro area.