Stores can welcome customers in Rhode Island this weekend, but restrictions linger

(WJAR) — Some new life is coming to businesses in Rhode Island.

"It's been eerie to see empty parking lots," Barrington Books general manager Jennifer Massotti said Thursday.

After a dismal late winter, spring is the season of coming to life, and Rhode Island's local businesses are getting a taste of that as the state takes its first steps to open up the economy. They're still, however, taking measures against the very contagious coronavirus.

"Our stores will be sanitized and deep cleaned tomorrow. We've already installed the virus guards at the cash registers and are marking off the space near the cash register for social distancing," Massotti said.

Barrington Books has relied solely on orders over the phone and pickups, but the store is spacious, and workers are ready to see just a few faces at a time.

"The health and well-being of our customers as well as our staff is of paramount importance, but we can't wait to see our neighbors," Massotti said.

Gov. Gina Raimondo last month set a capacity standard for grocery stores of one person for every 150 square feet.

But for retailers reopening, that number is doubling. Stores will only be allowed to have one customer inside for every 300 square feet.

"It would be very difficult for us to comfortably do that," Frog and Toad owner Asher Schofield said. "It would basically be allowing each or two customers in our store at a time."

Frog and Toad at its Hope Street home in Providence is sticking to curbside pickup, despite the option of some in-store interaction.

"I'm not ready to get there yet," Schofield said.

Schofield said the space is small and that curbside is working for them, so they'll hold off on making any changes.

"I just want to navigate this carefully, and do what's right for everybody," he told NBC 10 News.

Masks are mandatory beginning this weekend in public.