Coronavirus: Businesses ready, but wary, as owner/operators get green light to reopen

FAIRBORN — Retail, consumer and services businesses have the green light to reopen Tuesday under Gov. Mike DeWine’s Responsible RestartOhio plan in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Business owners and operators are relieved after having to shut down for months because of the highly contagious virus.

Consumers are ready to let go of being pent up at home because of the state’s stay-at-home order, which has been modified in some locales.

But consumers and business owner/operators all know things won’t be the same. There are restrictions both groups must follow under this phase of the state’s plan -- physical distancing, face coverings, plastic and/or glass partitions -- all of it aimed at stopping the spread of respiratory droplets.

"I'm just glad to be open," Michael Foy, who owns and operates Foys stores in Fairborn, told News Center 7's Sean Cudahy on Monday night.

Foy said he won't be expecting a flock of customers because of the lingering fear about COVID-19. He knows that while he and his workers will be wearing masks, not every customer will be wearing one.

He’s already had to shut down one of his seven businesses, Foy’s Rock and Roll Grill on East Main Street in Fairborn, because it was a small eatery and the restrictions dictated by social distance and mass gatherings just wouldn’t make sense economically. His other stores, also in Fairborn, focus on costumes and masks and wigs and more for holidays.

Foy said he continues to worry because he's already missed St. Patrick's Day, April Fool's Day, Cinco de Mayo, Easter and he will miss Memorial Day as well as July 4.

“I hope Halloween goes as planned,” he said. “Hopefully there’s not a second boom to this,” he said, referring to the outbreak of virus.

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