As ‘retail-to-go’ starts in Texas, Fort Worth closed this store that declared itself essential
On Friday, the first day of “retail-to-go” in Texas, workers at Tuesday Morning stores reopened their doors. Then the city promptly shut down multiple locations.
The company in a statement declared it is an essential business, which has the ability to stay open during stay-at-home amid the spread of the novel coronavirus, because the stores sell food, pet supplies and other essential home goods.
By Friday evening however, the city closed at least three Tuesday Morning stores for violating the stay-at-home order, which does not allow in-store sales or gatherings, according to emails from city’s code compliance department.
City code enforcement officers closed the Hulen location around noon Friday as well as a store off U.S. 287 and Interstate 35. Code officers also ordered a Camp Bowie store to close Friday afternoon and would confirm in the morning that it remained closed.
The company said it sells human and pet food, but because the bulk of the store’s sales are not food, the city determined Tuesday Morning was not an essential business, according to the emails.
The city has allowed curbside pick-up for retail since the outbreak first began, city health officer Brandon Bennett said.
More than a dozen customers — several who said they received texts or emails letting them know the store would be open Friday — showed up at the store’s Hulen Street location within the first 15 minutes of the store reopening.
“I’m just looking for some things for the bathroom,” said Diane Williams, of Fort Worth, on her way into the store.
Norma Brister, who arrived with Williams, said she just wanted to look around the store.
“I haven’t been in stores” much since stay at home orders went into place, Brister said. “I’m kind of excited.”
Shelley Hamilton decided to stop in at the store while she waited to pick up her order from the nearby JoAnne’s fabric store.
She said she doesn’t want to go anywhere there are big crowds. And her husband even does the grocery shopping.
“I guess I’m a little hesitant,” she said. “I don’t want stores to open too soon and for people to get sick.
“If they open too soon, it could cause problems.”
Clerks at the discount store declined to talk to the Star-Telegram. But they handed out a flier listing reasons the company is an essential business and why they “will operate stores and provide essential items to our communities.” The flier also noted that employees are being trained “about health,” given masks and health screenings, and are encouraged to use hand sanitizer and frequently wash their hands.
Signs on the store’s door encourage social distancing.
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley has said businesses should “use common sense” to determine if they are essential and should be open.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that “retail-to-go” — one of the first steps toward reopening Texas to business — would begin Friday.
And he plans to announce the next steps to further reopen businesses across the state on Monday. He hinted during a radio interview on Friday that there may be a regional approach to reopening depending on the spread of COVID-19 in communities.
Retail-to-go
Curbside business was slow at two downtown Fort Worth boutiques that rely on tourists and convention-goers.
At Parts Unknown, manager Lisa Dickinson was eager to see if Abbott would allow shopping by appointment. Revenue sank to about 5% of normal over the last month, she said. Those sales were through the store’s website and social media. A covered pick-up spot on Fourth Street had not been visited yet, she said Friday afternoon.
“Wasn’t the stimulus check meant to stimulate the economy?” she said with a laugh. “People are ready to shop.”
To boost exposure, Dickinson has “hit social media hard.”
Down the street at Yours Truly, owner Tammy Pistillo said Facebook Live shows on Monday and Friday have engaged customers, but they haven’t drawn in enough sales to make up for the lack of downtown tourists. The store has taken a hit in the “high 90% range,” she said, adding that she hoped curbside sales would be “a baby step to getting everything open.”
“I think we’ve been able to build clientele,” Pistillo said, referring to the Facebook videos. “Hopefully they’ll come see us when we get open.”
Both women wondered what that would look like, speculating that they may have to count customers as they come in, mark social distancing space on the floor or take private shoppers.
Different approaches
Some stores may not be ready for retail-to-go.
A number of retailers — from Pier 1 to Hobby Lobby to the Apple Store — remained closed in Fort Worth on Friday morning.
But many had signs posted on their doors that they were providing curbside pickup.
The Barnes & Noble off Hulen Street posted signs asking customers to stay in their cars for curbside delivery.
At a nearby Michael’s, off Overton Ridge Boulevard, signs indicated where customers should park for their order to be delivered to their car.
The Sun & Ski Sports in the same center had a tent and table set up outside to handle curbside pickup.
At Hulen Mall, signs outside Dillard’s indicated that curbside pickup was available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and customers should remain in their cars. “We’ll come to you,” the sign stated.
And a sign outside the Pottery Barn off University Drive noted that curbside pickup was available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and that customers should call when they arrive at the store.
The rules
The goal of retail-to-go, Abbott said, was to let customers go to stores to pick up items they were buying. But they weren’t to go inside.
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services issued instructions about how this should work.
Among their rules:
- Employees should be screened for fever or other symptoms of coronavirus before sanitizing hands, putting on a face covering and being trained on issues ranging from environmental cleaning to respiratory etiquette.
- Payments for items should be made online or over the phone to minimize contact.
- Items purchases should be put in a customer’s back seat or trunk and the employee should wash his or her hands after every encounter with a customer.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 4:09 PM.
