Ahead of Long Island snowstorm, shoppers struggle to find supplies

As Long Island braced for a major winter storm this weekend, many shoppers on Friday struggled to find snow removal supplies.

Patrons at Lowe’s Home Improvement in Garden City on Friday morning were disappointed to learn the store had run out of ice melt the day before. Employees told Newsday they were expecting a new shipment Thursday night, but it had not come. They said they were hopeful it would arrive by Friday afternoon.

John Pagonis, 55, of Roslyn Heights, said he went to the store Thursday to buy ice melt, as he was down to one bag. He returned Friday morning after being told the store would receive a shipment. While he felt a little frustrated when none arrived, he understood.

“I was watching the news, and they said Jersey was having a problem getting salt and stuff,” Pagonis said. “So I'm sure it's probably nationwide, that it’s been a shortage of salt.”

A worker who answered the phone at Home Depot in Westbury said the store was completely out of ice melt, snow shovels and snowblowers. The employee said her manager told her they’re not expecting any shipments and that people are now trying to rent excavators.

Peter Griffith, 60, of Manhasset, said he had visited that store earlier Friday morning only to find it had no shovels or snow melt. When he went to Lowe’s, he was happy to at least find a shovel available for purchase, along with bird seed. Walmart was his next stop, he said.

“We got to feed the birds, and we got to shovel the driveway if this storm comes,” Griffith said. 

An employee answering the phone at the Hempstead Home Depot said after receiving a new shipment Thursday, the store quickly ran out of melt and a new shipment is not expected by the time the snow arrives.

Meanwhile, an Ace Hardware store in Westbury did have ice melt in stock late Friday morning, according to a worker.

Riverhead Building Supply said their stores also had ice melt, but that its stock was dwindling.

Pagonis, an EMT for Northwell Health, said he planned to visit other hardware stores on Friday and hoped to be prepared when he returns to work Monday.

John Gangemi, 57, of Westbury, came to the Garden City Lowe's with his wife to purchase ice melt, but left only with cardboard boxes for his planned move to Putnam County this weekend to be closer to his daughter, who lives in Westchester County.

But after seeing the forecast, Gangemi said he is unsure if the move will go as planned.

“I’m trying to figure it out,” he said. “We may have to postpone or extend my lease on my apartment.”

For the short term, Gangemi planned to visit a smaller hardware store in hopes of finding ice melt there and then do a grocery haul. 

Ken Posphauer, of Westbury, was on an early morning grocery run. He had already shopped at Walmart and Target before picking up some sponges at Lowe’s. His next stop: Aldi.

When it comes to snow removal, he said he was grateful his landlord is responsible.

“I’m 84 years old,” Posphauer said. “I want to make it to 85.”

The relative 'calm' before the storm

The Westbury Trader Joe’s location looked more like a typical Sunday than a Friday morning as customers of all ages rushed to buy produce and other staples, with lines stretching far back into the aisles.

The store had plenty pre-storm must-haves like milk and eggs, although some of the frozen sections were depleted.

Heather Moriarty, of Franklin Square, said she had never seen the store this packed, not even on a weekend.

“They had to break the lines up so you could get through the middle,” she said. “You have to park your cart and then go shop down the aisle. You can't even get down the aisle to check out.”

Despite the large crowd, she said employees remained very friendly, asking if they could help her find anything, and she did not feel rushed. The staff also continued to restock shelves.

“Nobody in there is yelling, nobody is crying, nobody is whining,” Moriarty said, crediting the Trader Joe’s employees' stereotypically kind demeanor.

Moriarty said she is preparing for a three-day weekend with two teenagers so she stocked up on snacks like corn puffs and frozen pizza.

As a hockey mom, she hoped that weekend games would get canceled.

“I want not to go out on Sunday,” she said.

Josh Zay, 62, of Great Neck, said his wife had already done a big grocery haul at Costco, but he went to Trader Joe’s Friday morning for a second trip.

He had hoped to purchase ice melt nearby, but instead had a full grocery cart of water bottles and juice, among other items.

“That’s it,” Zay said.