Retail Business Down 80 Percent
By Hannah Davis
In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 121, effective Monday, March 30, 2020. North Carolinians are to stay in their homes except to perform essential work and essential activities. Businesses are to remain open only if they are considered an essential business. Local retail stores in Bladen County, including Lolli’s on Main, Leinwand’s of Elizabethtown, and Fisher’s Apparel, have been affected by this pandemic and the restrictions of the executive order.
Lolli’s on Main in Bladenboro offers tanning services and sells clothing. Owner, Teresa Horton, confirmed that her business is not labeled as essential, so she has closed her store for the time being. She says that she will do what she can for her store by working from home and keeping the store’s social media active.
Leinwand’s of Elizabethtown sells a variety of clothing items. Owner, Ricky Leinwand, received the approval from the Department of Revenue to remain open as an essential business on April 2, 2020. Leinwand’s is considered essential because they sell safety equipment and important clothing items, according to Leinwand. In addition to the clothing, they cash checks for those in the community without a bank account.
Leinwand describes business as “down 80 percent,” but they will remain open Monday through Saturday from 9-5 and for appointments. In order to practice social distancing, browsing is discouraged, and customers must have a specific need.
While the pandemic has drastically changed the way local businesses can operate, the small business operators are doing all they can to support their community at this time. According to some store owners they are taking this time to renovate their locations and catch up on paperwork.
BladenOnline staff contacted Fisher’s Apparel, but at this time they have no comment.
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