Maricopans have it “made in the shade” at Bashas’

Maricopa’s summer heat requires a regimen that must be followed after parking your car. First, there’s the windshield sunscreen that must be unfolded and propped in place using your visors. Then there’s the towel to drape over the steering wheel and, of course, the one-finger door slam so you don’t burn your digits on the red-hot handle.

Thanks to Bashas’ those summer heat precautions are all in the past. This week the Chandler-based grocery chain completed the construction of covered parking at its Maricopa store. Within the next two weeks lighting will be installed under the canopies to provide safety and extra security, according to Maricopa Store Director Barb Delfino.

“It’s going to be great for the summer heat and the winter elements,” Delfino said.

How have Bashas’ customers responded? “They love it,” noted Delfino.

Maricopa’s Bashas’ store is only the third in the grocery chain’s Phoenix-area stores to install shade covers over its parking spaces. The shades will protect customers from both the summer heat and the winter elements according to Maricopa Store Director Barb Delfino.

A total of 108 parking spaces, including seven handicapped spaces, are now shaded at the Maricopa Bashas’ store. Lights for extra safety and security will be added in the next two weeks.

Not all parking spaces are covered, but there are three rows, or about 108 spaces overall with steel T-shape supports covered by fabric, which will provide relief for customers who hate parking in the blistering heat of the summer sun. Seven of the spaces are dedicated to handicapped parking.

Maricopa’s “shady” store is the third Bashas’ in the Metro area to get the covers; there are also two in Scottsdale, one at a Bashas’ and the other at an AJ’s location. The first one at Indian School and Hayden was an experiment that proved very successful. Asked how much the project cost, Delfino replied, “Quite a bit! This is a new concept that we’ve come up with.”

Always known as an Arizona chain, Bashas’ is the first grocer to erect the shade covers, which are generally found in apartment complexes or office structures. Plans call for the shades to be added to a few stores at a time.