Restaurant Depot in Alexandria, a bulk food supplier normally only open to restaurants, coffee shops, nightclubs, caterers, and food service distributors, is now open to the public, the store confirmed on Sunday.

The decision was made on a corporate level and they’ve been open to the public “for a few weeks.” We’ve reached out to Restaurant Depot’s corporate office, but haven’t received a response as of this publication.

The store sells large bulk quantities of everything from energy bars to giant slabs of skirt steak. As described by a store representative, “It’s all bulk buying in quantities larger than anything you’d get at Costco or Sam’s Club.”

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But with many grocery stores running out of flour, yeast, and other in-demand goods, customers are getting creative in buying food.

With stay-at-home orders in effect and all restaurants closed to dine-in service across the region, the supply store has seen a noticeable drop in sales as well. Allowing the public in helps those who want to stock up and the store with sales. Other wholesalers have made similar moves.

Opening to the general public helps, but doesn’t compare to busy restaurants buying pounds of butter, gallons of olive oil, and dozens of cans of tomato puree.

“We are getting a lot of customers [and] foot traffic, but a lot of people are buying one or two items,” an Alexandria store representative said. “The quantity isn’t what we’re used to.”