Downtown is set to reopen

    Murphy – Downtown was quiet but had hints of activity Saturday afternoon, as non-essential businesses were allowed to reopen.
    Many of the local businesses that had been closed for just over a month due to orders from Gov. Roy Cooper spent Friday preparing their stores for customers. On Saturday, several businesses not only had their “open” sign lit, but had their door propped open to welcome customers.
    Some stores are open for a limited number of days and hours each week. Martin Barros of Brasstown wandered the downtown streets to see what was open but wasn’t ready to shop, at least not quite yet.
    “We’re happy to see a lot of them are doing their thing,” he said.
    Several business owners said they were steady with customers throughout the day. Owners also said customers were good about practicing social distancing in their stores, although few were wearing masks.
    Keisha Dockery, owner of Black & White Market, said she was thankful to be open. She thought people really wanted to get out of the house Saturday.
    “I’m optimistic, but still a little reserved for what’s to come,” she said.
    Rumors Clothing owner Heather Posey said it was good to be open again.
    “We were glad just to see people,” she said.
    Simply Sweet Boutique owner Jennifer Gabrielli said she was worried that customers weren’t ready to return when she reopened Monday morning.
    “It’s scary, that’s for sure,” she said.
    Under the executive order signed May 5, most businesses can be open. Only businesses that provide personal care and grooming services (barber shops, hair salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors and massage services)  and entertainment facilities (bingo sites, bowling alleys, gyms, movie theaters, spas and gaming establishments) must remain closed.
    Katherine Boorujy, owner of Urban Salon, wishes she could have reopened along with her neighbors on Valley River Avenue. She and her stylists are anxious to get back to work.
    “We understand the governor’s orders and precautions, but as of May 22 we have been out of work 60 days,” she said. “A few of the stylists haven’t been able and/or have been denied unemployment, so it’s been a hardship on everyone.”
    Boorujy added that salons had standard sanitation procedures they must follow to keep their license before the virus existed. When they are able to reopen, sanitation and disinfection would continue to be important.
    “I do believe that we could have opened and been just as safe and sanitary as anytime before,” she said.
    Businesses that are open are required to limit the number of customers to 50 percent of the fire capacity or 12 customers for every 1,000 square feet of the business’s total square footage.
    Businesses must also limit the number of customers so that customers can stay at least 6 feet apart from each other. They are to post a sign at the main entrance reminding customers to stay 6 feet apart and to not enter if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
    The order also provides requirements for cleaning the business and screening workers.
    Restaurants and bars continue to only be open only for takeout or delivery. Valley River Brewery & Eatery decided to temporarily close last week due to the financial strains of being open under the restrictions on restaurants.
    Owners Dawn and Mike Marsden said customers not being able to come in and have a beer or get a growler has affected sales.
    “We appreciate all our customers coming out for take out, but it’s not enough to cover the overhead,” the owners said.
    As of Monday, the Marsdens plan to work on a reopening plan when the state allows bar service to resume.