Texas no longer has a mask mandate — but here are some major businesses requiring them

Some major companies in Texas will still require customers to wear face masks, despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision Tuesday to lift the statewide mask mandate.

Businesses are allowed to enforce safety measures after the new mandate goes into effect March 10, Abbott said.

Here is a list of businesses that will require mask wearing, either with employees or customers. The list will be updated.

Alamo Drafthouse

All coronavirus policies, including mandatory mask wearing, remain in place at the major movie theater chain.

“We are only following the guidance of the CDC and medical experts, not politicians,” Alamo Drafthouse said in a Twitter post. “Right now, at what we hope is the beginning of the end of COVID, the health of our teams and our guests remains this company’s top priority.”

H-E-B

The grocery store chain said Tuesday shoppers will be encouraged to wear masks, but they will not be mandatory.

“Though statewide policy has changed, our store policy has not. We continue to ask customers to be masked while in our stores,” H-E-B tweeted to several Texans. “We will still require our partners and vendors to wear masks while at work. We have & continue to follow local/state orders on masking regulations.”

Target

Shoppers and employees at the national retailer will still be required to wear masks, a company spokesperson said.

“We require guests to wear masks or face coverings in all of our stores, except for guests with underlying medical conditions and young children,” a Target spokesperson said in a statement to McClatchy News. “We also require all store team members to wear masks at work and have provided them with reusable and disposable masks. Those who have been vaccinated for coronavirus are still required to wear a mask and follow all social distancing guidelines, in line with current CDC guidance.”

Albertsons

The grocery store chain with 37 locations in Texas will follow similar guidelines as H-E-B. Shoppers will be encouraged to wear masks, but only employees will be required to wear them, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Macy’s

Macy’s will not change its existing policy, which requires shoppers and employees to wear masks, a company spokesperson told McClatchy News.

The department store said in July in announcing its mask policy that it will provide masks to customers.

Kroger

Kroger said in a statement to McClatchy News it has a responsibility to keep its employees, customers and communities safe, and thus will continue enforcing its mask policy.

“Although the statewide mask mandate has been lifted in Texas and the state has made great strides in combating the pandemic with COVID-19 testing, antibody testing and COVID-19 vaccines, to ensure the safety of our customers and associates, Kroger will continue to follow health and safety guidelines recommended by the CDC and other leading medical authorities and require all associates and customers working and visiting our stores to wear a mask as previously implemented in July of 2020,” a Kroger spokesperson said.

CVS

CVS Pharmacy will keep its existing policies nationwide, including in Texas, a spokesperson told McClatchy News. Its face mask policy went into effect in July.

“If a customer is not wearing a mask or face covering, we will refer them to our signage and ask that they help protect themselves and those around them by listening to the experts and heeding the call to wear a face covering,” CVS said. “For safety reasons, our employees are directed to avoid escalated confrontations with non-compliant customers, and to instead help them complete their purchases as quickly as possible.”

Walgreens

Likewise for Walgreens, which will also keep face mask policies in effect. Walgreens has asked customers at all locations nationwide to wear masks since July.

“Walgreens is not changing our policy,” a spokesperson told McClatchy News. “We require masks to be worn in all our stores.”

Tom Thumb

The grocery store chain with 64 locations in Texas will follow a similar strategy as H-E-B and Albertsons.

Tom Thumb shoppers will be encouraged, but not mandated, to wear masks, according to The Dallas Morning News. Employees will still be required to wear them.

Best Buy

The electronics retailer will also keep its existing COVID-19 policies. It has required masks at all of its locations since July.

“To continue to ensure the safety for our employees and customers, we are maintaining our nationwide mask mandate in accordance with CDC guidelines,” a Best Buy spokesperson told McClatchy News.

The Home Depot

Like many other national businesses, The Home Depot will also keep the same policies it has had in place for months.

“The Home Depot requires associates and customers to wear masks while in our stores or any Home Depot facility nationwide,” a spokesperson told McClatchy News. “We’ll continue to follow CDC guidelines, as we’ve done all along.”

Costco

To avoid confusion, Costco will continue to require masks for shoppers and employees at all of its locations, according to KXAN. Costco has had a face mask policy in effect since May.

ALDI

The grocery store chain continues to require shoppers to wear masks, a company spokesperson told WFAA.

“For the health and well-being of the communities we serve and for the protection of our employees, we will maintain our current nationwide policy requiring all employees and customers to wear a face covering when shopping in our stores,” AlDI said in a statement. “We will continue to assess any new guidelines issued by the CDC, and will keep our customers informed of any future changes.”

This story was originally published March 3, 2021 at 8:48 AM.