“Really uncharted territory”
Calli Swofford woke up with mixed emotions Saturday, the first day in nearly two months that she’d be opening up her home goods shop off Tennyson Street to foot traffic after Denver’s stayat-home order expired.
The small business owner was excited to welcome back customers but also a little nervous as she sought to make shoppers feel safe while they perused her homey Miller Lane Mercantile store in the Berkeley neighborhood.
“It’s really uncharted territory,” Swofford said outside her store, a mask covering her nose and mouth. “Everyone is feeling the weight of that.”
Businesses owners around the Denver area tentatively opened their doors Saturday, dipping their toes in the water to see if the public would be ready to frequent their stores after two months of mostly staying at home.
The first day of reopening brought a small number of shoppers out as owners try to determine what their hours should be moving forward and how they might need to adjust operations to fit the new normal.
With the air crisp and the sun shining, residents walked along Tennyson Street in Berkeley, poking their heads into businesses, grabbing take-out coffees and walking their dogs.
Terri Beaton sat near the checkout counter inside Blush, a boutique clothing store, as she caught up with store owner Christy Rosen.
Beaton, clad in a green mask Saturday, has been a loyal customer for 16 years and stopped by to pick up a Mother’s Day present and chat with her friend.
“I love this store, and I’m here to support them,” she said.
Rosen said she plans to welcome customers by appointment only starting Monday but wanted to open the doors to all Saturday to see if people would show up.
“We’re taking it one day at a time,” she said.
Next door, owner Liana Hill
stood outside her women’s clothing store, Dona Forta, chatting with Swofford from a safe 6-foot distance.
Hill has been limiting customers to one or two at a time inside her small shop, having them bag their own merchandise to keep everything hands-free.
“I just wanted to try it out and decide how I feel,” she said, adding that she plans to continue to offer online ordering and curbside pickup for those not ready to venture into the store.
“I really love having a store and helping people feel great,” Hill said.
A block down Tennyson Street, Case Newsom bounded out of the Spruce Barbershop with a fresh, clean cut.
“It’s been four months since my last real haircut,” Newsom said, adding that he had to buzz his own head when all the businesses closed in March. “It feels amazing.”
As Newsom was getting his own hair cut, his dog was getting a trim down the street.
Businesses on Saturday reported a range in their level of patronage.
Adam Baker, a manager at Certified Tattoo Studios on South Broadway, said the first day back had plenty of people wanting new ink, while a representative with Floyd’s 99 downtown said the barbershop didn’t have a free slot all day.
Elizabeth Reinig made four quick sales to loyal customers Saturday when she opened her Cherry Creek clothing store, Your
Best Friend’s Closet, but was waiting to see how the rest of the day would go.
“It’s really tentative,” she said. “It’s really weird.”
Sam Tabachnik: stabachnik@ denverpost.com or @sam_tabachnik