Governor Tim Walz announced last week the end of his stay-at-home order in Minnesota, allowing retailers and main street businesses to partially reopen, with bars, restaurants, and salons to tentatively follow on June 1.
Monday was the first day that these businesses were allowed to be open, as long as they’re operating at 50% capacity and practicing social 
distancing. Steve Erickson is the co-owner of Erickson Embroidery and 2nd Street Boutique in Crookston, and has been in business for about 13 years. He says the staff is grateful for the opportunity to reopen, and they’re ready to do business safely. “We’re going to have masks available for people who want to wear them,” Erickson said. “There’ll be hand sanitizer. We’ll disinfect things after (customers) leave, and we have a steamer to sanitize clothes if people try clothes on.”
Ellen and Larry Leake, owners Willow and Ivy, shut their doors in mid-
January for remodeling and mass cleaning. Customers were thrilled to come back on Monday for the first time in four months. “People are happy to be able to walk in, Ellen said. “We had shoppers and visitors all day (Monday). We have hand sanitizer available – all of those kinds of things. It’s working.”
While many business owners across the state are happy to get back to work, many small businesses across the country may never reopen. The hardships of COVID-19 have been felt by all business owners, including Erickson. “Our problem was we had all of the spring stuff in, and no one was able to come in and buy it,” he explained. “Yeah, it’s been a long haul. Hopefully, people shop local and support us.”
Willow and Ivy, meanwhile, was hoping to reopen in mid-March after their remodel, but it was right around that time when things began shutting down due to COVID-19. The closure was longer than expected, but Larry and Ellen are thankful to be back. “In mid-March, we knew we weren’t going to be able to open for quite a while,” Ellen said. “We came down here a lot in case any product came in…we’re just happy to be back.”
Other local Crookston retailers, like Brander Printing and Office Supplies and Montague’s Flower Shop, say they’re unsure when they’ll be able to open again, citing staffing issues and other concerns related to COVID-19. As for bars, restaurants, and salons, Gov. Walz said that June 1st is certainly a possibility, but “not a guarantee,” depending on the course of the pandemic in Minnesota.
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