It’s late. You’re a healthcare worker on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. You’re tired.

But you just realized you’ve got to pick up some groceries — some eggs, maybe some fresh fruit, some yogurt or a box of cereal. And these days, that’s not always a simple task.

Thankfully, there’s hope for hospital workers at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.

Rendezbrew Cafe is normally a bustling cafeteria. But in the COVID-19 era, a portion of it has been transformed into a grocery store — “to make a difficult situation little easier,” according to a recent statement from Dignity Health, which operates the Northridge site, along with hospitals in San Bernardino, Glendale, Long Beach and Los Angeles.

The idea is simply to give physicians and staffers at least a little more time, especially for their own families, according to Paul Watkins, Northridge hospital’s president.

Tapping its partnerships with food distributors, the hospital was able to transform the space where they’d usually be selling sandwiches and a salad bar for lunch. The result? The hospital can purchase items and sell them at cost to workers.

It’s part of a national initiative at Dignity hospitals. Glendale Memorial opened a store, too, with 100 employees reportedly flocking to the market on its first day of operation.

“We’re extremely happy about it,” said Alex Valdez, Dignity’s Food Service director at Glendale Memorial. “They come down for lunch, buy some grocery items, take them to their house instead of being exposed at a local grocery store. A lot of stuff has been driven by kids, because as we know the kids are staying home.”

Amanda Magrum, Director of Education, buys ingredients to make fresh salsa at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Alex Valdez, Food Service Director, left, helps employees with groceries at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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Groceries available at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Groceries available at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Hospital employees shop for groceries at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)



Edgar Hicban, waits in line to buy Brussels sprouts at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Groceries available at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Groceries available at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Alex Valdez, Food Service Director, stands near groceries at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Hospital workers shop for groceries at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)



Groceries available at Dignity Health – Glendale Memorial Hospital in Glendale, CA., Monday, April 20, 2020. Dignity Health Hospitals are now offering groceries at their hospitals at in-house mini marts selling the goods to all employees at the hospitals cost. This is to help hospital employees get the food they need and also limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus by reducing their trips to grocery stores. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

The cafeteria-turned-mini-markets take a page out of a change that is happening throughout L.A. County. Many traditional restaurants have converted their space into markets, where customers can buy basic goods, such as produce, dairy and bread.

At first, L.A. County Public Health officials weren’t thrilled about the conversions, as stay-home orders blanketed the Southland. But faced with businesses on the verge of collapse, the county recently released guidelines on how businesses can safely operate a kind of grocery store.

At Dignity, it appears to be working.

“It’s been very positive. Very friendly,” Valdez said. “They are very happy. They come down, they talk about all their needs and about being able to buy groceries for their kids, after their late shifts … .”