Texas: Open for business?
TENTATIVE STEP: Many Houston shops, patrons, offices still reluctant to return
Arrows on the floor show customers which way to walk. Sanitizing stations appear on the walls. Signs advise shoppers to wash their hands.
On the first day that Texas’ stay-at-home order expired and nonessential retailers were allowed to reopen under social distancing protocols, customers and employees alike braved a new world together — 6 feet apart and at 25 percent capacity.
There wasn’t a rush to get through the door. The vast majority of customers across Houston stayed home, heeding advice of officials and community leaders that the spread of the new coronavirus that forced the shut
“My heart was saying, ‘Oh, I want to go in there,’ but then my mind kicked in and I was like, ‘OK, let’s wait a couple of days.’ ”
Liesbeth Vegter “It’s sort of social going to the mall. But now, it’s just grab your stuff and go.”
Justice Velez “It’s been six weeks of no restaurants, and I am a foodie. It feels lovely to be here.”
Julia Jones, dining at Eugene’s Gulf Coast Cuisine
downs isn’t over yet. Many businesses and offices remain closed, particularly large corporations and chains, but some, most of them small businesses, felt they didn’t have a choice but to open.
“As a customer, I would never visit a mall right now,” said Juana Cisneros, the owner of a pupuseria and taco shop at PlazAmericas, a mall at the corner of Bellaire Boulevard and U.S 69. “But as the owner, I have to be here.”
The Greater Houston Partnership, a business-financed economic development group, encouraged office-based employees who have been able to carry out tasks remotely to stay the course. Bob Harvey, its CEO, said in a statement there was “no need to add fuel to the fire” when it comes to COVID-19 transmission.
At Houston’s Galleria mall, a massive upscale mall that typically attracts 30 million visitors a year, the majority of the 400 storefronts kept doors locked. Tables and chairs in the food court were missing — only to-go orders were allowed. Kiosks that normally sell jewelry, perfume and gifts were draped with black cloths.
“Early on, we’re okay with that,” said Kurt Webb, the Galleria’s general manager. He said tenants are anxious to get back to business, but he understood why they’re not all opening at once. “We want to make sure we’re giving everyone enough space and earning people’s confidence.”
Anxious consumers
Despite the social distancing measures, earning consumer confidence back will be tough. Only about a third of U.S. consumers feel safe going to the store right now, according to a Deloitte survey of consumer behavior.
When Liesbeth Vegter stepped out of her apartment at CityCentre on Friday she noticed one of her favorite boutiques was open for business. She felt a surge of excitement at the thought of being able to go in after more than a month of everything being closed. But then, the pragmatist in her took over.
“My heart was saying, ‘Oh, I want to go in there,’ but then my mind kicked in,” she said. Vegter decided to wait.
That attitude will likely be the case among Texans for some time due to fear of contracting the virus, said Peter Rodriguez, an economist and dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University.
“The big question is, in the absence of any government action, what will consumers do?” he said. “Many are going to hold back at least a few more weeks and wait for a real sign of safety.”
He added that even if consumers aren’t too worried about contracting the virus, mass layoffs mean that Houstonians may not have the money to shop. “People want to hang on to their paycheck for a little bit longer.”
About half the restaurants in
Texas chose to reopen on Friday, according to a survey by the Texas Restaurant Association. “It’s a big day for Texas and our restaurant community,” said Emily Williams Knight, president and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association.
Indeed, stores weren’t completely empty on Friday. Despite the unprecedented mass closure of schools, offices and retailers, some customers have not altered shopping habits and were eager to get out of the house.
At the Galleria, Cory Andrews of The Woodlands said he doesn’t like online shopping, so he drove to the mall on the first day it reopened on the hunt for Dior cologne and Gucci socks.
At Houston Premium Outlets in Cypress, Moses Cruz shopped for a running shoe. He’s training for his first marathon in January, and wanted to shop in person to ensure the right fit — but his expedition was unsuccessful, as neither Finish Line or Foot Locker
had the shoe he was looking for.
And, at PlazAmericas, where a majority of stores were open, parents Justice Velez and Christi Moreno waited outside in line to shop at Sheikh Shoes. The store only allowed three customers in at a time, and everyone is required to wear masks.
“It’s sort of social going to the mall,” Velez said, “but now, it’s just grab your stuff and go.”
A ‘grim reminder’
Despite the option to open, many stores in shopping centers from CityCentre to Katy Mills Mall opted to remain closed Friday. Rodriguez said that could be because the cost to staff and operate the storefront may be greater than anticipated earnings in an uncertain time. .
“For many of them, it’s going to be a little bit longer before they find it to be profitable to even get back in the game,” Rodriguez said. “Certain labor costs will go up, and they’ll have to invest more in sanitary and safety standards.”
Local business leaders, labor advocates and government officials advised businesses and consumers to use caution as the stayat-home orders expire.
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo urged residents to still stay at home if possible, warning of a possible resurgence of coronavirus cases. A one-day spike of 50 deaths on Thursday was still concerning, she said, calling it a “grim reminder that this virus doesn’t respect dates on a calendar.”
Labor advocates also emphasized caution. Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy criticized the opening as a “premature green light,” if the state does not allow employees to refuse work if their employer does not meet safety standards in the pandemic.
Corporations with office employees appear to remain cautious. ConocoPhillips is implementing a three-phased approach to re-opening its Houston corporate offices, but it won’t commence until May 11, when during the first phase, building occupancy will be limited to 25 percent and employees will be able to voluntarily return.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all way to do this,” said John Roper, spokesperson for ConocoPhillips. “Some workers are eager to get back to the office, and they are welcome to come in starting May 11. Others will prefer to wait for a later date, and that’s completely acceptable.”
And then there were those such as Michael “Sharky” Marquez, who runs Out Cast Charters in Galveston, who were champing at the bit to get back to work.
“We’re out in open air,” he said. “We’re enjoying God’s creation. And it’s our constitutional right to be able to fish and provide food for not only ourselves, but other families that decide to come out with us.”