Doors open after lockdown

Retailers welcome customers back

By: Sheldon Birnie Posted: 11:01 AM CST Friday, Jan. 29, 2021

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/01/2021 (1947 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It has been a long couple months for retailers who have been prohibited from opening their doors due to public health orders.

But when restrictions were eased on Jan. 23, allowing stores selling items deemed non-essential to open up to the public again, albeit with a capacity limit of 25 per cent or 200, whichever was lower, customers were eager to shop.

Kildonan Place, located at 1555 Regent Ave. W), was at capacity throughout the re-opening weekend, with a lineup waiting to get in.

“Everyone was quite respectful,” reported Corey Quintaine, marketing manager for KP and Grant Park Shopping Centres. “Lineups were long, but they understood. There was lots of room to move inside once they were in. We’re doing the best we can to keep our customers safe.”

According to Quintaine, about 30 of KP’s retailers were able to remain open during the recent lockdown, while others found innovative ways to provide online shopping or curbside pickup options.

“It was definitely a different Christmas for us,” he said.

While a few tenants at KP remain shuttered, Quintaine said the majority are now open again. New Bluenotes and Cassiopeia’s locations have also opened their doors at KP for the first time. Meanwhile, renovations continue on the west side of the mall, with new tenants expected to be announced soon.

Over on Raleigh Street, Royal Sports opened its doors to customers for the first time since late October.

Greg Haasbeek, co-owner of the Royal Sports locations at 655 Raleigh St. and 750 Pembina Hwy., said business at both locations was good on Jan. 23.

“We have a front door person, counting customers going in and out,” he said. “A manager will also be doing a count inside.”

While Royal’s Pembina location remained open for curbside pickup over the Christmas shopping season, the Raleigh location was closed.

“We did all our business over the phone or text, direct messages on social media,” Haasbeek said. “It’s a lot harder to do business that way, but we were doing business.”

According to Haasbeek, sales have been strong for products like skates, winter wear, and other gear for outdoor winter activities.

“Stuff for pond skating, ODR, river trail, that has been very good,” he said. “We’ve sold more than any year before.”

Skate sharpening has also been in high demand.

“Since Christmas, at times it, has been a wait of three hours (at Pembina),” he said. “Raleigh was busy all day (Saturday).”

Over on Henderson Highway, manager Dan Scaletta was happy to see customers coming through the doors at Mar-Schell’s Music again.

“We’re happy to have doors open again and have people coming through the door,” he said. “It wasn’t gangbusters like it was at the malls (but) it was smooth going.”

During both spring and fall lockdowns, Mar-Schell’s has offered curbsite pickup at 1109 Henderson Hwy. and delivery of products within city limits. All Mar-Schell’s music lessons, a significant part of their business, have moved smoothly online.

“That’s sustaining us,” Scaletta said. “This has impacted us and lot of other businesses. But we hope for the best going forward. We’re still here, we’re still open.”