Local grocery stores had a surge of customers Monday as people prepared for the night’s snowfall.

Charleston residents were stocking up on necessities to get ready for the projected snowfall of up to 7 inches, as the National Weather Service placed Coles County under a winter weather advisory Monday afternoon.

Jill Bevill, an assistant manager at Wal-Mart, said the grocery side of the Charleston Wal-Mart Supercenter was busier than normal Monday as the advisory was given.

“People were especially interested in grocery items; people were buying milk and cereal, the staples,” Bevill said.

Byron Wendent, supervisor at Save-A-Lot, said they witnessed an increase in customers preparing for the snowstorm through out the day as well.

“People have bought anything, basically, like bread and milk and meat,” Wendent said. This is nothing new to see the day before a snowstorm.

When people get off work is usually when days like Monday become busy, Bevill said.

“Right around 5 o’clock, we were really really busy… between 5 and 6 p.m.,” Bevill said.

While the grocery stores saw a great increase in customers today, no extra money will be accumulated from the snow preparations after today’s sales will be counted.

“(Today) will be slow,” Wendent said.

However, Bevill said Wal-Mart would not be behind in sales the whole day.

“It will be slow until the roads get cleared,” Bevill said. “Once the roads get plowed and the sun comes out, it usually gets a little better in here.”

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu.