SF Businesses Rush to Reopen

San Francisco businesses are rushing to prepare for reopening
phase two, which begins on Monday.

For some retail business owners like Sara Polluck, who owns maternity
store Mom’s the Word, the welcome start can’t come soon enough. Her family-run
business has taken a sharp hit since the pandemic began. Online sales account
for only 10% of business because maternity retail, Polluck explains, usually
involves a more tactile experience.

Monday’s start to curbside pickup will help Polluck reconnect
with her customers.

“I’m super excited because it’s at least a step for us as a
business, we can continue to move forward, to be there in a slightly different
way for our customers,” she said. “We can try to consult through the window.”

But curbside pickup may be a temporary fix to the retail
industry that not everyone is ready for.

Ron Benitez, owner of San Francisco apparel store Asmbly
Hall, said last week’s announcement just wasn’t enough time for him to get
things ready to meet the county’s guidelines.

“A couple things that we are sensitive about was the rush to
get everybody prepared,” Benitez said. “We had heard about the opening maybe
last Wednesday or Thursday, and we were given guidance, but the guidance was
not put together by people from the retail industry.”

Just like many businesses, Asembly Hall has had to make big
cuts during the pandemic – including closing the doors to his flagship location,
also in San Francisco. Curbside pickup is what Benitez called a band-aid.

Benitez hopes business will pick up as he expects to be fully
operational curbside by the end of the week.

San Francisco city leaders said they are closely watching
the spread of COVID-19 and more restrictions will loosen once certain health
benchmarks are met.

Source: NBC Bay Area