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CITING AN INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR ITS PICKUP FOOD SERVICE, KROGER IS NOW CALLING THIS STORE THE MOUNT, -- MOUNT CARMEL GROCERY PICKUP CENTER. LIKE MANY PEOPLE, CHUCK DEGARO HAD NO CLUE THE KROGER CLOSEST TO HIS HOME HAD CHANGED SO MUCH UNTIL HE STOPPED BY FOR A VISIT AROUND LUNCHTIME. >> YOU’RE ALLOWED TO GET YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS ONLY. THAT’S IT. YOU CAN’T SHOP. TODD: IN A STATEMENT, A KROGER SPOKESWOMAN THANKED CUSTOMERS FOR UNDERSTANDING AS WE WORK TIRELESSLY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY DURING THIS UNPRECEDENTED TIME, ADDING THE PICKUP-ONLY MODEL IS IDEAL FOR ALL CUSTOMERS, ESPECIALLY FOR SENIOR AND HIGHER-RISK SHOPPERS. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE FOR THIS WOMAN WHO WALKED TO THE STORE FOR FOOD, ONLY TO BE TURNED AWAY ANOTHER MAN, WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET AND DIDN’T WANT TO BE ON TV, CALLED THE PICKUP-ONLY APPROACH AWFUL. DEGARO IS A BIT MORE UPBEA >> WE GOT TO STOP THIS THING SOMEHOW AND PEOPLE GOT TO GET BACK TO WORK AND HOPEFULLY THIS IS, THIS HELPS, I GUESS. >> MY FIRST ORDER I DIDN’T GET THE DICED TOMATOES, SO I FINALLY GOT THOSE SO I CAN MAKE SOME SOUP. TODD: PEGGY OGG AND HER HUSBAND HAVE NOW ORDERED GROCERIES ON KROGER’S WEBSITE TWICE AND PICKED THEM UP AT THIS STORE. PEGGY PREFERS SHOPPING ON HER OWN BUT LIKES THE WAY ON-SITE PICKUP GIVES EVERYONE PLENTY OF SPACE. >> THIS HAS BEEN JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY HELPFUL SINCE ME AND MY HUSBAND ARE OVER 65 AND, YOU KNOW, THE DISTANCING THING. TODD: IT’S CLEAR THAT PEGGY OGG ENDORSES THIS FIRST OF ITS KIND PICKUP-ONLY KROGER STORE. SHE AND SHOPPERS WHO ORDER AHE CAN GET THEIR GROCERIES HERE DAILY FROM 8:00 IN THE M

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Kroger is transforming one of its Greater Cincinnati stores into a pick-up only location as a way to help residents get groceries while preventing the spread of COVID-19.The Kroger store on Aicholtz Road in Mt. Carmel in Clermont County is undergoing a dramatic transformation. For the foreseeable future, customers who shop at the store can still get their prescription drugs, but if they want food, they'll have to plan ahead.Citing an increase in demand for its pickup food service, Kroger is calling the store the Mt. Carmel Grocery Pickup Center."(We) had no idea until we pulled up," Chuck Degaro said.Like many people, Degaro had no clue the Kroger closest to his home had changed so much until he stopped by for a visit around lunchtime Wednesday."You're allowed to get your prescriptions only. That's it. You can't shop," he said.In a statement, a Kroger spokeswoman thanked customers for "understanding as we work tirelessly to serve the community during this unprecedented time," adding "The pickup-only model is ideal for all customers, especially for senior and higher-risk shoppers."That was not the case for one woman who walked to the store for food only to be turned away. A man, who lives across the street and didn't want to be on TV, told WLWT's Todd Dykes the pickup-only approach is "awful."Degaro is a bit more upbeat."We got to stop this thing (coronavirus) somehow and people got to get back to work," Degaro said. "Hopefully this is, this helps, I guess."Peggy Ogg and her husband have now ordered groceries on Kroger's website twice and picked them them up at the Mt. Carmel store."It was only because of the virus," said Ogg, who prefers shopping on her own but likes the way on-site pickup gives everyone plenty of space."This has been just, you know, really helpful since me and my husband are over 65 and, you know, the distancing thing," Ogg said. "That really did help, you know, just being able to go pick it up."Ogg and other shoppers who order ahead can get get their groceries at the store on Aicholtz Road daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.