Minnesota Stores Reopen Under New Stay Safe Minnesota Order

DULUTH, Minn.– After two months of having their doors shut to the public, retail stores can now have customers inside once again.

Today is the first day of Governor Walz’s new stay safe Minnesota order, allowing some businesses to let customers inside their stores.

“It’s kind of like letting the dam burst,” said Jarrow Wahman, Co-Owner of Austin-Jarrow Footwear in Duluth.

Governor Walz’s Stay Safe Minnesota Order allows retail stores let customers inside with some restrictions, including only being at half-capacity.

Two and Company is one of those stores opening up, selling women’s apparel, jewelry and more. Right now, the store is the only one open in the Dewitt-Seitz Building in Canal Park.

Owner Bill Miller had to lay off all of his employees but now plans to have most of them back by the end of June.

The store has been taking measures to keep customers safe. Adding barriers in front of the registers and having hand sanitizer stations in the store. Customers are being asked to wear masks and social distance when possible.

“I just hope people can feel safe and my employees can feel safe when they come back and have a pleasant shopping experience they’ve had in the past,” said Miller.

Business has been steady at Austin-Jarrow Footwear in Duluth during their first day back open. Wahman says one reason has been people wearing out their shoes going for walks and runs more during the pandemic.

While the shoe store was shut down, they were still getting by using curbside pick-up. It’s been getting them through but Wahman says it’s important for many customers to try their shoes on before they buy them.

“There are some customers they know exactly what they want, what size they need, what color they want most people need to try on a half dozen shoes and so that curbside is really not going to fly,” said Wahman.

Wahman says his customers are excited to be back out shopping again. Even though there can be risk, he is confident people will be responsible in stores.

“People have just become instinctually aware of social distancing,” said Wahman. “So we don’t really have to say anything because people are just doing it.”

Austin-Jarrow will still also be doing curbside pick-up until all restrictions are lifted.