Masks, hand sanitizer, arrows greet wary customers as NC businesses reopen

So, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, plastic dividers and other changes greeted customers when they returned to area malls and stores.

"We only get one shot at doing this the right way," said Brian Fowler, who manages a Fleet Feet store in Raleigh.

“First and foremost is figuring out how to limit the number of people coming in," Fowler said, noting that most customers will be helped by appointment to keep numbers down.

Under Cooper's order, stores are limited to 50 percent of the capacity allowed by local fire marshals. But many are restricting how many people are allowed in even further.

Fleet Feet has hand sanitizer and masks at the door, and its restrooms and fitting rooms are closed.

"There has been a lot to adapt to," Fowler said.

Inside a DSW shoe store in Cary, which plans to reopen Saturday, arrows on the floor mark one-way aisles, and shoes that are tried on will be disinfected and quarantined from the sales floor for three days.

At Crabtree Valley Mall, tables in the food court are farther apart. Surfaces on elevators, escalators and restrooms are being cleaned more often. The children's play area is closed, and the interactive display map of stores has been disabled.

Mall officials said they know at least 30 stores plan to open this weekend.

But others, such as The Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, plan to wait a while before reopening. Gap Inc., which owns all three chains, said it is starting slowly by reopening a few stores in Texas before expanding.

When the stores do open in North Carolina, shoppers can expect to be greeted by employees wearing masks and paying for their purchases through clear barriers. Returned merchandise will be quarantined for 24 hours.

Like the other large chains, Bed, Bath & Beyond isn't opening its doors yet.

"Show your ID and open your trunk, and we will put your stuff in the back of the trunk," she said.

Still, some shoppers say they aren't ready to return to stores.

“Just for my mother’s sake,” Marti Perez said. "I am being very mindful. She is over 80, and I still want her to get out but not [have] close contact with people."

Small retailers are even more excited about getting back to business, and they are doing whatever they can to make customers feel safe enough to return.

Jessica Throneburg is greeting customers back to Little Details, her Garner boutique, with a smile and hand sanitizer. Her shelves are now stocked with cleaning supplies, as well as the usual gifts and clothes.

"This is like my liquid gold," Throneburg said of Lysol cleaner, which she's had to track down through wholesalers.

"We have been able to creatively find ways to get those items, but we are paying a higher price for them," she said. "As you know, the more demand, the more prices go up."

Workers will be steaming clothes that come out of the dressing room to cut down on germs, she said.

The shutdown couldn't have happened at a worse time for Throneburg, who had just expanded to a new location on Timber Drive when the pandemic hit.

But some of her customers were glad to see the shop open again.

"I was just real excited to get out of the house and shop for Mother’s Day," Olivia Stoltz said.

"As soon as you walked in the door, they said, 'Sanitize your hands,'" said her sister, Danica Stoltz. "I think it is necessary to keep people safe so I am fine with doing it."

Mother's Day weekend – combined with graduations – is one of the biggest shopping times of the year for Bailey's Jewelry in Raleigh's Cameron Village shopping center.

The store has a sanitation station at the door with masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and wipes – but it's up to customers whether to use any, some or all of it.

"Jewelry can be cleaned and sanitized," manager Audrey Humphreys said, noting workers dip items in cleaning solutions and rinse them off whenever customers handle them.

Cross Creek Mall in Fayetteville won't open until 11 a.m. Saturday, giving store workers a chance to prepare on Friday.

Saslow's Jewelers spent the day giving the store a deep cleaning and wiping down counters.

Manager Gwen Bell, who has been in the jewelry business for about 30 years, said she has never been more excited about getting back to her passion, especially on Mother's Day weekend.

"I can't wait to see my customers. I can't wait to make some moms happy," Bell said. "If, by some chance, people are not coming into our store, no worries. All they have to do is text, email or call the store, and we'll be glad to do curbside pick-up."

"I miss them, and Mother's Day is coming up, so hopefully, we'll get some business," Denton said.

She put arrows on the floor to keep customers moving in one direction – one way in, one way out.

"We have masks that we will be wearing. We also have masks and hand sanitizer for the customers," she said. "We have sanitizer for the counter tops, and every time someone leaves, we're going to make sure we're wiping everything down.

"If you use an ink pen, we're going to wipe that down before you use it and after you use it. We're going to make sure our jewelry is clean after every day," she added. "Things will be different. They will not be – it will be the new normal."

Cross Creek Mall managers are requiring employees of all stores and mall staff to wear masks, but there is no requirement that customers have to wear them.

The mall also has closed its food court and other seating areas until further notice.

While many retailers either opened Friday at 5 or plan to open on Saturday, others are still waiting.

“We are so excited it’s been a long seven weeks we are super excited we put a lot of implementation in place for staff and clients," said Alexandra Lora of Lori Lulu, whose business will reopen Saturday.

Lora has put the store through deep cleaning and will have hand sanitizers and masks on hand.

“Once you’ve tried on a garment we will be wiping down the wood and hanger before putting it out in the store,” Lora said.

“Wives or mothers will have items gift wrapped and have them delivered to the curb,” said Joe Anne Wright.

Inside, it’s clear social distancing is in place. Before and item is put back on the rack, it’s steamed.

“We are extremely excited after having to close our doors for seven weeks we are happy that we can open up,” Wright said.