Heart of town centre back as shops reopen

BUSINESSES DELIGHTED TO WELCOME BACK CUSTOMERS ONCE AGAIN

The town centre sprang to life once again yesterday (Monday) morning as shop began re-open following Covid-19 closures.

From clothes shops to cafes, homewares to bookshops, the beating heart of the town resumed as owners cautiously opened their doors to the new normal of social distancing.

‘It feels so good to be back interacting with people again,’ said Dorothy Igoe, Modern Fashions.

She added that ‘although things might be a bit unusual for a while’ they are delighted to be welcoming back their customers.

‘We haven’t had to operate a queueing system so far, business has been steady, and we are able to operate social distancing well.’

Modern Fashions bridal shop was also one of the key businesses on hold for the last three months, with weddings postponed due to the coronavirus.

‘A lot of weddings have been put off until next year, so we’ve had wedding dresses on hold.’

Dress appointments are also up and running again, said Dorothy, with just one guest able to accompany the bride on their visit.

Also thrilled to have opened their doors again are River Roe Books in Park Street.

Owner Tom Muckian said that they have in place all the measures needed for reopening including limiting numbers, hand sanitisers, gloves and masks. ‘We’ll be educated by customer demand I’m sure as much as anything, but we have implemented some physical changes as well with separating

screens every two meters to allow browsers some security.’

He added: ‘For school books during the upcoming season we’ll be operating a drop in/ collection service to limit numbers, with a collection station at the rear of the shop. It will be a learning curve for everyone in retail I’m sure.’

Meanwhile, homeware shops are also reopening, a welcome sign as people put in place the redecorating plans which have been on hold for several months.

L.C Blinds opened up their Coes Road shops once again on Monday morning.

‘It’s a great feeling, good to get back to some sort of normality to be honest,’ said proprietor, Shane McGuinness.

‘We’re operating mostly on an appointment basis initially, but hopefully that will change over the coming months.’

He said there was a steady demand from customers, ‘as people finally are able to get out and spend money again.’

Photos: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics. Reopen for business, clockwise from top left, Mark and Andrew Cumiskey, Franks Carpets, Northlink Retail Park; Shane McGuinness of LC Blinds & Interiors, Franks Carpets, Northlink Retail Park; Keith Duffy of DNG Duffy, Clanbrassil Street; Jennifer and Gerard McEvoy in McEvoys Department Store, Clanbrassil Street and Eilish Brady, The Gift & Art Gallery Shop on Clanbrassil Street.

Photo: Aidan Dullaghan/Newspics Catherine Baldwin, Dorothy Igoe and Eilish Giff in Modern Fashions Shop, Clanbrassil Street.